Ranji Trophy 2025–26: India’s Domestic Powerhouse Returns in October

All You Need To Know About the Ranji Trophy 2025–26 Season

This event has always been the heartbeat of cricket in India. It’s a first-class tournament where emerging talents prove their worth before stepping on bigger stages. Every season, the tournament has shaped careers and influenced the decisions of national selectors, making it much more than a domestic cricket event.

Betting enthusiasts now have tons of games to wager on through the MelBet cricket app, making it a popular choice for cricket fans. The 2025-26 edition, which starts this October, promises to be no different. We’ll see a stage that offers young players a chance to shine and veterans an opportunity to reaffirm their dominance ahead of another busy international calendar. 

In this article, we’ll uncover the group structure for the domestic cricket October 2025 event, players to watch, and so much more. 

Historical Importance of the Ranji Trophy

This event has always been a first-class tournament since its debut in 1934-35. It was inspired by the BCCI (Board of Control for Cricket in India) and created by the Maharaja of Patiala as a tribute to Kumar Shri Ranjitsinhji. 

Right from the early days, the tournament has been where India’s Test players prove themselves and national team ambitions take shape. There are legends like Wasim Jaffer, whose all-time leading scorer runs in the event earned him a top status among domestic stars. We also have stalwarts such as Cheteshwar Pujara, who started here and carved his way to international success.

The Ranji Trophy has always had clout, and it presents an opportunity that young domestic talents won’t hesitate to grab. 

The Structure of the 2025–26 Season

The group structure for this year’s edition will involve a total of 117 matches from start to finish. That’s good news for MelBet users because they have a lot of games to wager on. Thirty-eight teams will participate in the tournament — an Elite tier (32 sides, four groups of eight) and a Plate group (six teams). 

Each team will face off against the others in their group once. The 1st and 2nd-ranked teams in each Elite group will proceed to the quarterfinals, while the Pilates will run its knockouts. The winner of the latter gains promotion next season, and the bottom-ranked Elite side drops down. 

The India domestic cricket contest will have two parts. The group stage matches will take place from mid-October through November, then from January through February. The knockout stage will then start on the 6th February. 

The 2025-26 edition will be played across several venues in India, and the Elite group matches will have a home-and-away format. 

Players to Watch This Season

Several young domestic talents will aim to impress and capture the attention of national team selectors. Watch out for:

• Sai Sudharsan, who scored over 1,000 Ranji runs in the last edition.

• The youngest Mumbai batter, Musheer Khan, scored a century in a Ranji Trophy final.

There will also be established names, including:

• Harsh Dubey, who was the leading wicket-taker in the 2024-25 season, bagged 69 wickets in 10 games. He will be crucial for Vidarbha title defense. 

• Anshul Kamboj, who took 10 wickets in an innings against Kerala with figures of 10/49, something no other Indian bowler has achieved since Anil Kumble in 1999.

When it comes to international returnees, keep tabs on players like:

• Mohammed Shami, who looks to make a strong comeback after recovering from injury.

• Ishan Kishan, the record holder for the quickest double-century runs in men's ODIs.

There are also potential debutants such as:

• Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, the record holder for the fastest century by an Indian in youth tests.

• Gurnoor Brar, the top wicket-taker in the Sher-e-Punjab T20 League. 

Favorites vs. Rising Challengers

The 2025-26 season promises to be a captivating showdown between established powerhouses like Mumbai, Vidabha, Karnataka, and Saurashtra, and several emerging teams like Kerala and Hyderabad. While the traditional giants (the Elites) will compete for the title, the challengers will be looking to demonstrate that the dominance of a select few is no longer the norm. 

Vidarbha are the current defending champions, and they’re riding high on confidence. With their third title in seven years, they will be hoping to rise above the competition once again. Thankfully, they have kept players like Karun Nair and record-breaking spinner, Harsh Dubey, to count on for Vidarbha title defense. 

On the other hand, we have rising challengers, including teams from the North East and smaller associations. We expect them to keep the heat on the big dogs despite their consistency struggles. The matches will be a blissful mix of youth and experience, and the rivalries, both old and new, will continue to be intense. 

The Takeaway

Cricket October 2025 promises glimpses of future stars and the reemergence of a few familiar names. The Ranji Trophy isn’t just another cricket event, it’s where ambition meets legacy. Come late February, when the dust settles, we’ll see who has earned their place or put national selectors on notice.