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Ranji Trophy Kicks Off: Stars Return to Domestic Action
11 Oct
Summary
- The 2026-27 Ranji Trophy season begins October 11 with 38 teams.
- Several Indian stars like Siraj and Rahul will play for their states.
- Arunachal Pradesh may forfeit a match due to a dispute.
The 2026-27 Ranji Trophy season is set to begin on Sunday, October 11, featuring 38 teams in India's top First-Class cricket competition. The opening round comprises 19 matches nationwide, but Arunachal Pradesh might forfeit their game against Nagaland amidst an internal cricket association dispute. Several key Indian players, including Mohammed Siraj, KL Rahul, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sarfaraz Khan, and Mohammed Shami, are expected to represent their home states, using these matches as crucial preparation for an upcoming two-Test series in New Zealand.
Defending champions Jammu & Kashmir will face Madhya Pradesh in their opening fixture, aiming to recover from a recent Irani Cup loss. Delhi, with a new coaching setup including head coach Vijay Dahiya and mentor Rajkumar Sharma, will compete against Bengal. Mumbai is scheduled to play Chandigarh at the Wankhede Stadium, with Yashasvi Jaiswal's potential wicketkeeping practice for white-ball selection also a point of interest. The tournament spans 138 matches in total, divided into two phases with other limited-overs tournaments scheduled in between.
