One of the most prestigious competitions, the Ranji Trophy, is back as the tournament is set to start on October 11 with 16 matches being held at different venues. Speaking more about the competition, tournament is named after Colonel H. H. Shri Sir Ranjitsinhji Vibhaji II, often known as K. S. Ranjitsinhji, who was the first Indian cricketer to play at the highest level.
Started in 1934, and since then, the tournament has never looked back, with many players aspiring to play for the Ranji Trophy.Over the years, many things have changed. Initially, the tournament saw five zones, North, South, East, West, and Central. But slowly and steadily, things started changing, and just before the 2002-03 season, the zonal system was replaced with the Elite and Plate groups, where 15 teams were in the Elite group, and the others were in the Plate group.
Recently, the tournament saw further expansion, with 38 teams now divided into eight Elite Groups and one Plate Group. Each Elite Group has four teams, while the Plate Group consists of six teams.
Looking at the winners list, Mumbai has been a formidable side in this prestigious competition with 42 titles, Karnataka has won 8 times, while Delhi has won 7. See the full list of Ranji Trophy winners over the years.
Ranji Trophy winners list
| Ranji Trophy Season | Champion | Runner-up | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1934-35 | Bombay | Northern India | |
| 1935-36 | Bombay | Madras | |
| 1936-37 | Nawanagar | Bengal | |
| 1937-38 | Hyderabad | Nawanagar | |
| 1938-39 | Bengal | Southern Punjab | |
| 1939-40 | Maharashtra | United Provinces | |
| 1940-41 | Maharashtra | Madras | |
| 1941-42 | Bombay | Mysore | |
| 1942-43 | Baroda | Hyderabad | |
| 1943-44 | Western India | Bengal | |
| 1944-45 | Bombay | Holkar | |
| 1945-46 | Holkar | Baroda | |
| 1946-47 | Baroda | Holkar | |
| 1947-48 | Holkar | Bombay | |
| 1948-49 | Bombay | Baroda | |
| 1949-50 | Baroda | Holkar | |
| 1950-51 | Holkar | Gujarat | |
| 1951-52 | Bombay | Holkar | |
| 1952-53 | Holkar | Bengal | |
| 1953-54 | Bombay | Holkar | |
| 1954-55 | Madras | Holkar | |
| 1955-56 | Bombay | Bengal | |
| 1956-57 | Bombay | Services | |
| 1957-58 | Baroda | Services | |
| 1958-59 | Bombay | Bengal | |
| 1959-60 | Bombay | Mysore | |
| 1960-61 | Bombay | Rajasthan | |
| 1961-62 | Bombay | Rajasthan | |
| 1962-63 | Bombay | Rajasthan | |
| 1963-64 | Bombay | Rajasthan | |
| 1964-65 | Bombay | Hyderabad | |
| 1965-66 | Bombay | Rajasthan | |
| 1966-67 | Bombay | Rajasthan | |
| 1967-68 | Bombay | Madras | |
| 1968-69 | Bombay | Bengal | |
| 1969-70 | Bombay | Rajasthan | |
| 1970-71 | Bombay | Maharashtra | |
| 1971-72 | Bombay | Bengal | |
| 1972-73 | Bombay | Tamil Nadu | |
| 1973-74 | Karnataka | Rajasthan | |
| 1974-75 | Bombay | Karnataka | |
| 1975-76 | Bombay | Bihar | |
| 1976-77 | Bombay | Delhi | |
| 1977-78 | Karnataka | Uttar Pradesh | |
| 1978-79 | Delhi | Karnataka | |
| 1979-80 | Delhi | Bombay | |
| 1980-81 | Bombay | Delhi | |
| 1981-82 | Delhi | Karnataka | |
| 1982-83 | Karnataka | Bombay | |
| 1983-84 | Bombay | Delhi | |
| 1984-85 | Bombay | Delhi | |
| 1985-86 | Delhi | Haryana | |
| 1986-87 | Hyderabad | Delhi | |
| 1987-88 | Tamil Nadu | Railways | |
| 1988-89 | Delhi | Bengal | |
| 1989-90 | Bengal | Delhi | |
| 1990-91 | Haryana | Bombay | |
| 1991-92 | Delhi | Tamil Nadu | |
| 1992-93 | Punjab | Maharashtra | |
| 1993-94 | Bombay | Bengal | |
| 1994-95 | Bombay | Punjab | |
| 1995-96 | Karnataka | Tamil Nadu | |
| 1996-97 | Mumbai | Delhi | |
| 1997-98 | Karnataka | Uttar Pradesh | |
| 1998-99 | Karnataka | Madhya Pradesh | |
| 1999-00 | Mumbai | Hyderabad | |
| 2000-01 | Baroda | Railways | |
| 2001-02 | Railways | Baroda | |
| 2002-03 | Mumbai | Tamil Nadu | |
| 2003-04 | Mumbai | Tamil Nadu | |
| 2004-05 | Railways | Punjab | |
| 2005-06 | Uttar Pradesh | Bengal | |
| 2006-07 | Mumbai | Bengal | |
| 2007-08 | Delhi | Uttar Pradesh | |
| 2008-09 | Mumbai | Uttar Pradesh | |
| 2009-10 | Mumbai | Karnataka | |
| 2010-11 | Rajasthan | Baroda | |
| 2011-12 | Rajasthan | Tamil Nadu | |
| 2012-13 | Mumbai | Saurashtra | |
| 2013-14 | Karnataka | Maharashtra | |
| 2014-15 | Karnataka | Tamil Nadu | |
| 2015-16 | Mumbai | Saurashtra | |
| 2016-17 | Gujarat | Mumbai | |
| 2017-18 | Vidarbha | Delhi | |
| 2018-19 | Vidarbha | Saurashtra | |
| 2019-20 | Saurashtra | Bengal | |
| 2020-21 | Not held due to Covid-19 | ||
| 2021-22 | Madhya Pradesh | Mumbai | |
| 2022-23 | Saurashtra | Bengal | |
| 2023-24 | Mumbai | Vidarbha | |
