Ranji Trophy 2025–26 explained: Teams, format, & Andhra’s progress!

The Ranji Trophy was named after Kumar Shri Ranjitsinhji Vibhaji, a prince from the state of Nawanagar and the first Indian to play international cricket. He is considered the “Father of Indian Cricket”. The tournament was officially launched in 1934, and the trophy was donated by Maharaja Bhupinder Singh of Patiala in memory of Ranjitsinhji.

Let us take a look at everything we need to know for this 2025-2026 season!

Q1. What is the Ranji Trophy?

The Ranji Trophy is India’s premier domestic first-class cricket championship, organised annually by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). It features teams representing regional and state cricket associations from across the country.

Today, the Ranji Trophy features 38 teams, including all Indian states and several union territories, competing across various grounds and stadiums throughout India.

Q2. What is the format of the Ranji Trophy?

The Ranji Trophy follows a two-tiered format, combining a league stage and a knockout round. It operates under first-class cricket rules, with matches played over four days.

The teams are divided into Elite and Plate groups, and a promotion and relegation system ensures competitive balance between the tiers.

The 2025–26 season, marking India’s 91st Ranji Trophy, follows a two-phase schedule. The tournament now begins earlier, allowing better coordination with other domestic tournaments like the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (T20S) and the Vijay Hazare Trophy (50-overs).

Q3. What are the new changes in the format?

In June 2024, the BCCI Apex Council approved significant structural reforms. The key change is that the Ranji Trophy will now be played in two distinct phases instead of one continuous block.

Here’s how the 2025–26 season is structured:

• Phase 1: 5 October 2025 to 19 November 2025
• Mid-Season Break: The Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and Vijay Hazare Trophy take place in the interim.
• Phase 2: 22 January 2026 to 1 February 2026.
• Knockout Rounds: From 6 February 2026 to 28 February 2026

This phased structure aims to balance workloads, improve player availability, and ensure smooth scheduling across domestic tournaments.

Q4. How is Andhra performing in the 2025–26 Ranji Trophy season?

Andhra is placed in Elite Group A alongside teams such as Vidarbha, Jharkhand, Baroda, Odisha, Tamil Nadu and Nagaland. After one round of matches, Andhra’s points record shows: Played = 1, Won = 0, Lost = 0, No Result = 1, Points = 3.

In their opening match of the season, Andhra faced Uttar Pradesh at Green Park (Kanpur) from October 15-18, 2025. Here, Andhra posted a first-innings total of 470.

Q5. Who is leading the Andhra team, and what does the squad look like?

The Andhra Ranji team is captained by Ricky Bhui, a consistent top-order batter known for his composure and technique. Shaik Rasheed serves as the vice-captain. Here’s the 2025–26 Andhra Squad:

1. Ricky Bhui – Captain, Top-order Batter
2. Shaik Rasheed – Vice-Captain, Batter
3. Ashwin Hebbar – Opening Batter
4. Srikar Bharat – Wicketkeeper Batter
5. Nitish Kumar Reddy – Batting All-rounder
6. Hanuma Vihari – Batting All-rounder
7. Satyanarayana Raju – Bowler
8. KV Sasikanth – Bowler
9. Tripurana Vijay – Bowler
10. Maramreddy Reddy
11. Lalith Mohan
12. Maheep Kumar
13. Manish Golamaru
14. Mohammad Rafi
15. Abhishek Reddy
16. Cheepurapalli Stephen
17. Vamsi Krishna

This squad brings a strong balance of youth, experience, and local talent, with players like Hanuma Vihari and Srikar Bharat adding international exposure to the mix.

Q6. What are the Ranji Trophy matches scheduled to be held in Andhra?

Here’s the list of matches Andhra will host in the  2025-26 season:

These matches will be crucial for Andhra’s chances of advancing to the knockout stage and will also bring live first-class cricket action to local fans.

Q7. Why is the Ranji Trophy so important?

The Ranji Trophy is vital to Indian cricket for several reasons; It is the primary pathway to national selection, allowing players to prove their skills in the long-format red-ball game. It helps identify and nurture talent from across India, many of whom go on to represent the country at the international level. The tournament sustains the domestic cricket ecosystem, providing opportunities for hundreds of players, coaches, and support staff.

As the tournament progresses, Andhra will look to build on this momentum, strengthen their bowling attack, and capitalise on home advantage in the upcoming fixtures at Vizianagaram and Visakhapatnam. With experienced players like Ricky Bhui, Hanuma Vihari, and Srikar Bharat leading the way, the team has both the skill and determination to make a mark this season.

The Ranji Trophy is the true test of Indian cricketing mettle. For Andhra, every innings and every session is a step closer to asserting its place among the country’s top domestic teams. Fans across the state will be watching closely, hopeful that this season could be the one where Andhra turns potential into performance and marches confidently toward the knockout stages.

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