Ranji Trophy 2026-27 Round 1 Guide

The 92nd edition of the Ranji Trophy got underway on October 11, 2026, with 19 first-class matches played simultaneously across India. Jammu and Kashmir walked into the new season as defending champions after their historic maiden title triumph, while 42-time champions Mumbai began yet another campaign chasing domestic glory. With India Test regulars like KL Rahul and Ravindra Jadeja turning out for their state sides, Round 1 of Ranji Trophy 2026-27 delivered a blockbuster opening week of red-ball cricket.

This complete guide covers every Round 1 fixture with venues, the full group line-ups, the tournament format, the star players in action, and where to watch the matches live.

Ranji Trophy 2026-27 Round 1 Fixtures (October 11-14, 2026)

The opening round features 16 Elite group matches and 3 Plate group matches, all four-day games starting on October 11.

The pick of the Round 1 clashes is Bengal vs Delhi at Kalyani, a classic eastern rivalry featuring a fearsome Bengal pace attack, while Mumbai’s date with Chandigarh at the Wankhede gives Yashasvi Jaiswal a home stage to start the season.

Ranji Trophy 2026-27 Groups

Thirty-eight teams are competing this season: 32 in the Elite division split into four groups of eight, and 6 in the Plate group.

Bihar earned promotion to the Elite division after winning the Plate title last season, while Nagaland were relegated to the Plate group. Jammu and Kashmir, the defending champions, find themselves in a demanding Elite Group A alongside former champions Vidarbha and Madhya Pradesh.

Tournament Format Explained

The BCCI has split Ranji Trophy 2026-27 into two phases to manage player workload around the white-ball domestic season. Phase 1 covers league Rounds 1 to 4 from October 11 to November 5, 2026. The tournament then pauses for the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and Vijay Hazare Trophy before Phase 2 resumes on January 17, 2027, running through the knockouts to the final on March 3, 2027.

In the Elite division, each team plays the other seven sides in its group once. The top two teams from each of the four groups, eight teams in total, advance directly to the quarter-finals. In the Plate group, the top four teams qualify for the semi-finals, and both Plate finalists earn promotion to the Elite division for the 2027-28 season.

Star Players to Watch in Round 1

Round 1 sees several India internationals honouring the BCCI’s directive to play domestic cricket when free of national duty. KL Rahul is the biggest draw, turning out for Karnataka against Andhra at Vijayawada. India’s Test vice-captain brings immense experience to a strong Karnataka line-up that also features Devdutt Padikkal.

Ravindra Jadeja is representing Saurashtra against Chhattisgarh at Rajkot, giving the home crowd a rare chance to watch one of the world’s premier all-rounders in domestic whites. Mumbai, meanwhile, field a star-studded side against Chandigarh at the Wankhede, with Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sarfaraz Khan and pacer Tushar Deshpande all named in the squad.

Mohammed Siraj is leading the Hyderabad attack against Tripura, while Bengal’s new-ball battery of Mohammed Shami, Akash Deep and Mukesh Kumar, led by captain Abhimanyu Easwaran, makes the Delhi clash at Kalyani must-watch cricket. Madhya Pradesh pacer Kuldeep Sen faces the defending champions in Srinagar, and Punjab’s emerging spinner Emanjot Singh Chahal gets an early audition against Assam.

The notable absentees from Round 1 are India Test and ODI captain Shubman Gill, who was not named in Punjab’s squad for the Assam game at New Chandigarh, and Rishabh Pant, who missed Delhi’s trip to Kalyani with a back spasm and viral fever. Punjab is being led by former India Under-19 captain Uday Saharan, while Gill could return for the second-round clash against Chhattisgarh starting October 18.

Defending Champions Jammu and Kashmir Begin Title Defence

Jammu and Kashmir are the story of Indian domestic cricket after lifting their maiden Ranji Trophy in the 2025-26 season, beating Karnataka in the final under captain Paras Dogra. Their title defence begins at home in Srinagar against Madhya Pradesh, a side packed with seasoned campaigners. Placed in Elite Group A with Vidarbha, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh, the champions face a stern examination of their credentials from the very first ball of the season.

Where to Watch Ranji Trophy 2026-27 Live

Live streaming of Ranji Trophy 2026-27 is available on JioHotstar in India, with select matches telecast live on the Star Sports Khel TV channel. Match timings are 9:00 AM and 9:30 AM IST for most fixtures, with the Sikkim vs Meghalaya Plate game at Rangpo starting at 8:15 AM IST.

When did Ranji Trophy 2026-27 Round 1 begin?

Round 1 of the 92nd Ranji Trophy season began on October 11, 2026, with all 19 matches scheduled from October 11 to 14 across venues in India.

How many matches are played in Round 1 of Ranji Trophy 2026-27?

Nineteen matches make up Round 1: sixteen Elite group fixtures and three Plate group fixtures, each a four-day first-class game.

Who are the defending champions of the Ranji Trophy?

Jammu and Kashmir are the defending champions, having won their maiden Ranji Trophy title in the 2025-26 season by beating Karnataka in the final under captain Paras Dogra.

Which India players are playing in Round 1?

KL Rahul (Karnataka), Ravindra Jadeja (Saurashtra), Yashasvi Jaiswal and Sarfaraz Khan (Mumbai), Mohammed Siraj (Hyderabad), and Mohammed Shami, Akash Deep and Mukesh Kumar (Bengal) are all in action in the opening round.

Why is Shubman Gill not playing Punjab's Ranji opener?

India Test and ODI captain Shubman Gill was not named in Punjab’s squad for the Round 1 match against Assam at New Chandigarh. Uday Saharan is leading the side in his absence, and Gill could return for the Round 2 fixture against Chhattisgarh from October 18.

Where can I watch Ranji Trophy 2026-27 live streaming?

Ranji Trophy 2026-27 is live-streamed on JioHotstar in India, with select matches also telecast on the Star Sports Khel TV channel.