New Delhi, 10 October (H.S.): The 92nd season of the Ranji Trophy, India’s most prestigious domestic red-ball cricket tournament, gets underway on Sunday, with several prominent Indian internationals set to turn out for their respective state teams in the opening round. The players are expected to subsequently join the India A squad to prepare for the upcoming three-match red-ball series on India’s tour of New Zealand. With a blend of seasoned international cricketers and emerging talent, the opening fixtures promise an exciting start to the domestic season.

Jammu and Kashmir made history last season by winning their maiden Ranji Trophy title in Hubballi. Fast bowler Auqib Nabi played a pivotal role in the triumph, claiming 60 wickets during the campaign. His outstanding performances earned him an opportunity to make his international debut in the ODI against the West Indies in Guwahati last month.

Jammu and Kashmir will now face the challenge of defending their title. Led by Paras Dogra, the side will take on Madhya Pradesh in Srinagar after suffering a defeat against Rest of India in the Irani Cup. Their response to that setback will be closely watched as the defending champions begin their new campaign.

Rahul, Jaiswal and Jadeja Among Star Names to Feature

The opening round is expected to feature several established Indian internationals, including KL Rahul for Karnataka, Yashasvi Jaiswal for Mumbai, Ravindra Jadeja for Saurashtra, Mohammed Siraj for Hyderabad, Manav Suthar for Rajasthan and Washington Sundar for Tamil Nadu. Mukesh Kumar and Akash Deep could also turn out for Bengal.

For Mumbai’s Sarfaraz Khan and Karnataka’s Karun Nair, the tournament represents a crucial opportunity to strengthen their cases for a return to the national team. Meanwhile, Mumbai’s promising young batter Ayush Mhatre and Jharkhand’s left-handed opening batter Shikhar Mohan will look to establish themselves in red-ball cricket.

Veteran fast bowler Mohammed Shami is also set to return to competitive action. He claimed 37 wickets last season and will represent Bengal alongside Mukesh Kumar and Akash Deep in their fixture against Delhi in Kalyani. Shami will be keen to strengthen his case for a return to the Indian Test side. Meanwhile, his former new-ball partner Bhuvneshwar Kumar has earned a recall to India’s T20I squad for the New Zealand tour.

Delhi’s New Coaching Set-Up Under the Spotlight

Delhi will begin the new season with a revamped support staff. Former India wicketkeeper-batter Vijay Dahiya has been appointed head coach, while Rajkumar Sharma, known for coaching Virat Kohli during his formative years, will serve as the team’s mentor. Delhi will launch its campaign against Bengal in Kalyani.

The selectors will also be keeping a close eye on Vidarbha players Harsh Dubey, Praful Hinge and Yash Rathod, along with Uttar Pradesh leg-spinner Zeeshan Ansari. Experienced campaigners will also be looking to make an impact for their respective sides. Umesh Yadav will represent Punjab, Harshal Patel will turn out for Gujarat, while Mandeep Singh and Hanuma Vihari will play for Tripura, bringing valuable experience to their teams and helping guide younger players.

While the performances of established internationals are likely to attract considerable attention in the opening round, the coming weeks will also provide emerging domestic cricketers with an important platform to demonstrate their ability and stake a claim for higher honours.

Arunachal Pradesh’s Participation Remains Uncertain

A continuing legal dispute between two factions of the Arunachal Cricket Association has cast doubt over the state team’s participation in its fixture against Nagaland. It remains to be seen when the legal impasse will be resolved, allowing the state’s cricketers to compete and showcase their talent throughout the season.

Ranji Trophy 2026–27: Group Composition

Group A: Bihar, Baroda, Goa, Jammu and Kashmir, Madhya Pradesh, Puducherry, Uttar Pradesh and Vidarbha.

Group B: Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Saurashtra, Chhattisgarh, Hyderabad, Tripura, Punjab and Assam.

Group C: Bengal, Delhi, Gujarat, Jharkhand, Kerala, Maharashtra, Services and Odisha.

Group D: Mumbai, Rajasthan, Haryana, Tamil Nadu, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Railways.

Plate Group: Mizoram, Manipur, Nagaland, Sikkim, Meghalaya and Arunachal Pradesh.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar