Wikipedia - Ranji Trophy

The Ranji Trophy is a premier domestic first-class cricket championship played in India. It is organized annually by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). Teams representing regional and state cricket associations take part in the tournament. The BCCI founded the championship in 1934, and since then, it has been organised across various grounds and stadiums in India.

The competition currently consists of 38 teams, including at least one team from each of the 28 states of India and four of the eight union territories. When the tournament was founded, it was named "the Cricket Championship of India", in 1935 it was renamed after Ranjitsinhji, who was the first Indian to play international cricket. He played for England from 1896 to 1902.

The Mumbai cricket team is the most successful team of the tournament, with a record 42 titles to their name.

The Vidarbha cricket team is the current champion after winning the 2024–25 final over Kerala cricket team at the Vidarbha Cricket Association Ground.

History

Ranjitsinhji, after whom the tournament is named

The idea of a national level, first class championship tournament was proposed by BCCI's founder A.S. De Mello. The competition was launched following BCCI's meeting at Shimla in July 1934, with the first fixtures taking place in 1934–35 .Initially the tournament was named as 'The cricket championship of India', it later was renamed. The trophy was donated by Bhupinder Singh, the Maharaja of Patiala in memory of Kumar Shri Ranjitsinhji, Jam Sahib of Nawanagar who had died the previous year. The first match of the competition was held on 4 November 1934 between Madras and Mysore at the Chepauk ground in Madras (Now Chennai). Mumbai (Bombay) has won the tournament the most times with 42 wins, including 15 back-to-back wins from 1958–59 to 1972–73.

In 2015, Paytm became the first company to hold the tournament's title sponsorship right by virtue of BCCI's title sponsorship deal.

The 2020–21 Ranji Trophy tournament was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the first season since the tournament's inception that it was not held.

The India Ranji Trophy is one of the most prestigious domestic cricket championships in India, showcasing the country's top cricketing talent. Established in 1934, it is a first-class cricket tournament organized annually by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). Named after Kumar Shri Ranjitsinhji of Nawanagar, popularly known as Ranji, the tournament features regional and state teams competing across various formats, primarily in multi-day matches. The Ranji Trophy serves as a vital platform for emerging players to showcase their skills and earn selection for the Indian national team. With a rich history spanning decades, the tournament has produced many legendary cricketers and continues to be a cornerstone of Indian domestic cricket, fostering competitive spirit and nurturing future international stars.