What is the Ranji Trophy? All you need to know about India's red-ball tournament

The Ranji trophy is India's premier domestic first class cricket championship organized manually by BCCI. It was established in 1934, which features teams representing regional and state cricket associations fostering local tournaments and serving as a stepping stone to international cricket.

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The Tournament is named after Colonel Kumar Shri Ranjitsinhji, the first Indian to play international cricket who represented England from 1896 to 1902.

The Ranji trophy features 38 teams representing different Indian states and cricketing associations.

The teams are divided into elite groups and plate groups. In the elite division, 32 teams are divided into four groups. In the plate league, there are 6 teams in one group. Each of India's 28 states and four of the eight union territories has at least one team. Some states have multiple teams such as Maharashtra and Gujarat. The Ranji trophy is a multi-day red ball tournament. The Elite category teams place each other once with the top two teams from each group qualifying for the quartic final.

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The Ranji trophy matches are four days long for round robin matches and five days long for knockout matches. In the league stages, matches are played over four days with six hours of play each day. In the knockout stage, matches are played over five days with six hours of play each day.  If a knockout match is not decided after 5 days, the team leading after the first innings wins.

The Ranji Trophy is crucial for Indian cricket, providing a platform for young talents to showcase their skills. Many Indian cricket legends, including Sachin Tendulkar, Sunil Gavaskar, Rahul Dravid, and Virat Kohli, have honed their skills in this tournament before making their mark internationally. Performances in the Ranji Trophy often influence national team selections, making it highly competitive.

In recent years, Saurashtra, Gujarat, and Rajasthan have emerged as strong contenders, disrupting the traditional dominance of Mumbai, Delhi, and Karnataka. These teams have made significant strides, with Saurashtra winning their first title in the 2019 Saurashtra: Their rise has been marked by a balanced team and solid performances, culminating in their title win.

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