The 92nd Ranji Trophy season gets underway on Sunday, 12 October 2026, with India's premier domestic red-ball competition drawing a rare confluence of international stars and emerging talent. The 2026-27 edition promises a blockbuster opening round before several marquee names depart to join the India A squad for a three-match red-ball shadow tour of New Zealand.

Star-Studded Round 1 Lineup

KL Rahul (Karnataka), Yashasvi Jaiswal (Mumbai), Ravindra Jadeja (Saurashtra), Mohammed Siraj (Hyderabad), Washington Sundar (Tamil Nadu), Manav Suthar (Rajasthan), and Mukesh Kumar and Akash Deep (Bengal) are among the high-profile India internationals set to feature in their respective state fixtures. The presence of such names in round one is unusual for a format that has often struggled for attention amid the T20 calendar, and signals a deliberate push to restore red-ball credibility at the domestic level.

Notably, veteran fast bowler Mohammed Shami, who claimed 37 wickets last season, returns alongside Mukesh and Akash Deep as Bengal host Delhi in Kalyani. Shami is reportedly keen to force his way back into Test reckoning after Bhuvneshwar Kumar received a T20I recall for India's upcoming New Zealand tour.

Defending Champions J&K Eye Back-to-Back Title

Jammu and Kashmir, who clinched their historic maiden Ranji Trophy title last season in Hubbali, begin their title defence against Madhya Pradesh in Srinagar under captain Paras Dogra. The J&K side arrives with a point to prove after falling to Rest of India in the Irani Cup. Star spinner Auqib Nabi, whose 60 wickets powered J&K's maiden triumph and earned him an international debut in last month's Guwahati ODI against the West Indies, will be central to their campaign.

Redemption Arcs and Fresh Faces to Watch

For several players, this season is about more than state pride. Mumbai's Sarfaraz Khan and Karnataka's Karun Nair will use the Ranji stage to press their claims for national recall. Young guns Ayush Mhatre (Mumbai) and left-handed opener Shikhar Mohan (Jharkhand) will look to build reputations in the longer format. Selectors will also keep a close eye on Vidarbha's quartet of Harsh Dubey, Praful Hinge, and Yash Rathod, as well as Uttar Pradesh leg-spinner Zeeshan Ansari.

Seasoned campaigners also take on mentorship roles: Umesh Yadav (Punjab), Harshal Patel (Gujarat), and Mandeep Singh and Hanuma Vihari (both Tripura) are expected to shepherd younger teammates through the long format's demands.

Delhi Rebuild Under New Management

Delhi begin the season with a revamped support structure. Former India wicketkeeper-batter Vijay Dahiya takes charge as head coach, while Rajkumar Sharma — widely known as the childhood coach of Virat Kohli — joins as team mentor. Delhi face Bengal in Kalyani in what is one of the most anticipated first-round fixtures of the season.

ACA Legal Dispute Clouds Arunachal Pradesh's Opener

Arunachal Pradesh face the risk of forfeiting their Plate Group opener against Nagaland due to an unresolved legal dispute between two rival factions of the Arunachal Cricket Association (ACA). The deadlock threatens to deny the state's cricketers a full season's exposure, with no resolution reported as of Sunday.

Broadcast and Groups at a Glance

Select first-round matches will be televised: Jammu and Kashmir vs Madhya Pradesh airs on JioHotstar and Star Sports Khel, while Punjab vs Assam and Bengal vs Delhi are available on JioHotstar. The 2026-27 season is divided across four elite groups and a Plate Group, with Group A featuring Bihar, Baroda, Goa, J&K, Madhya Pradesh, Pondicherry, Uttar Pradesh, and Vidarbha; Group B Karnataka, Andhra, 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; and the Plate Group Mizoram, Manipur, Nagaland, Sikkim, Meghalaya, and Arunachal Pradesh.

Whether the season's star names translate their presence into a deeper red-ball culture — and whether a new generation can step out of their shadow — will define the Ranji Trophy's narrative well beyond round one.