Bengal launched their 2026-27 Ranji Trophy campaign with a commanding nine-wicket victory over Delhi in Group C, while Haryana defeated Himachal Pradesh by seven wickets in Group D as the opening round of the premier domestic first-class tournament concluded on Wednesday, 14 October 2026. Defending champions Jammu and Kashmir were rescued by rain, and Karnataka settled for a draw against Andhra in a round that delivered several compelling storylines.

Bengal Dismantle Delhi in Group C

Bengal's bowlers set the tone by dismissing Delhi for 277 in their second innings, leaving Bengal a modest chase of 89 that they completed in just 15.3 overs to collect six points. Pradipta Pramanik was Bengal's chief destroyer with 3 wickets for 72 runs, while Amir Gani and Sumanta Gupta contributed two wickets each. With the bat, debutant Ankur Paul scored 38, and captain Abhimanyu Easwaran remained unbeaten on 34 to guide the side home in style. It is a statement-of-intent start for Bengal as they look to mount a title challenge.

Haryana Seal Seven-Wicket Win Over Himachal Pradesh

Haryana completed a seven-wicket victory in Group D after resuming their chase of 71 at 26/3 on the final day. Himanshu Rana anchored the innings with 37, while Dheeru Singh remained unbeaten on 24 — the pair adding a match-winning partnership of 51 runs. Earlier, Haryana had secured a 43-run first-innings lead and then bowled Himachal Pradesh out for 113 in their second innings, with Anshul Kamboj claiming four wickets.

Defending Champions J&K Saved by Rain in Srinagar

Defending champions Jammu and Kashmir faced a dramatic second-innings collapse against Madhya Pradesh in Srinagar, crashing to 12/5 while chasing after the visitors declared at 249/6. J&K recovered to 88/7 before rain and bad weather intervened, denying Madhya Pradesh what would have been a stunning outright result. Madhya Pradesh took home three points for their 76-run first-innings lead. This near-collapse will concern J&K's camp as they look to defend their title across a gruelling season.

Karnataka, Saurashtra, Punjab Among Draw Results

In Group B, Karnataka conceded a 144-run first-innings lead against Andhra, who posted 418 in reply to Karnataka's 274. Karnataka fought back through a determined second innings, declaring at 337/9, with veteran Karun Nair playing a pivotal role. Andhra finished at 104/4, earning three points to Karnataka's one.

Saurashtra took three points after securing an 80-run first-innings lead over Chhattisgarh. Ravindra Jadeja starred with a century (102) and later claimed three wickets. Chirag Jani scored an unbeaten century as Saurashtra declared at 229/1 in their second innings before the match ended in a draw. Punjab similarly earned three points against Assam, with debutant Vihaan Malhotra scoring 103 and Emanjot Singh Chahal remaining unbeaten on 114.

Big Wins for Baroda, Vidarbha, Maharashtra and Jharkhand

In Group A, Baroda demolished Goa by an innings and 135 runs after posting 472/8 declared and dismissing Goa for 199 and 138. Mahesh Pithiya took five wickets in Goa's first innings and Bhargav Bhatt claimed four in the second. Vidarbha beat Puducherry by 160 runs, having posted 428 in their first innings before bowling Puducherry out for 313 and 130.

In Group C, Maharashtra beat Services by 127 runs in New Delhi. Prithvi Shaw scored a brisk 70 off 73 balls and Ankit Bawne made a significant contribution as Maharashtra posted 333 in their first innings. Services were bowled out for 120 chasing 248. Jharkhand earned three points against Kerala, posting a massive 587 — featuring centuries from Shikhar Mohan, captain Virat Singh, and Aditya Singh — before the match ended in a draw. Uttarakhand also took three points against Railways via a first-innings lead, while Rajasthan and Tamil Nadu played out a draw in Group D with Rajasthan earning an 89-run first-innings lead. Earlier in the round, Hyderabad, Mumbai, and Uttar Pradesh also registered big outright wins in their respective group stage matches.

With the first round now complete, the points table begins to take shape — Bengal, Baroda, Vidarbha, Maharashtra, and Haryana sit among the early frontrunners as the season-long fight for Ranji Trophy glory gets underway.