Ranji Trophy Winners List
KS Ranjitsinhji, one of the first test cricketers of India, played 15 tests for England between 1896 and 1902 and he was a fabulous batsman who is credited for the introduction of the late cut and the leg glance in modern cricket. In July 1934, the Indian Cricket Board had a meeting and decided to organize a domestic cricket championship. The trophy was donated by the Maharaja of Patiala.
In honour of Ranjitsinhji, the tournament was named Ranji Trophy. Ranji Trophy began from the 1934/35 season, starting on 4th November with a game between Madras and Mysore. Bombay was the first Ranji Trophy winners, the champions of the 1934/35 season. State Teams, State Cricket Associations and Clubs with First Class Statu are eligible to play in the Ranji Trophy
Teams were initially grouped geographically into four zones – East, West, North and South. From the 1952/53 season, the Central Zone was added. However, this system was changed in 2002/03 season and a two-division structure was introduced – The Elite Group and the Plate Group. Until last year, the total number of teams participating was 28. However, from the 2018/19 season, 9 new teams are being introduced in the setup, taking the total number of participants to 37. The 2018/19 Ranji Trophy is scheduled at the end of this year and it is expected to start on 1st November 2018 and culminate on 6th February 2019. Vidarbha is the current Ranji Trophy winner.
The league matches in the Ranji Trophy are played for 4 days, whereas the Knockout games are 5 days long. All games in the 2016/17 season were played in neutral venues, however, this was an unpopular decision and as such, it was scrapped the next season. In case after the 5 days, there is no clear result in the knockout stages, the team leading after the first innings is considered the winner. During the league stages, points are allocated to teams depending on the results. In case of a clear win, 6 points are awarded. There is also a bonus of 1 point if they win is by an innings or by 10 wickets. In a drawn match, the team leading in the first innings gets 3 points, whereas the team with a deficit in the first innings get 1 point. In the case of no result, both teams get 1 point.
List of Ranji Trophy Winners of All Season ( 1934-2018)
Ranji Trophy Winners with Total Wins
17 different teams have won the Ranji Trophy so far, whereas 23 teams have played in the finals at least once. Bombay, currently known as Mumbai, have a record 41 wins from 46 appearances in the final. No team has won the Ranji Trophy as many times as Mumbai, who also has the record of 15 consecutive wins from the 1958/59 season to the 1972/73 season. Mumbai last won the trophy in 2016.
The Karnataka Cricket team, previously known as the Mysore Cricket Team, has won the Trophy 8 times, after appearing in the finals 14 times. Karnataka last won the trophy in 2015.
Delhi appeared in the Ranji Trophy finals 15 times and was crowned Ranji Trophy winners as 7 times. They last lifted the trophy in 2008.
Baroda appeared in the finals 9 times and won 5 of those finals, including their last win in 2001.
Holkar Cricket Team entered the Ranji Trophy in 1941 and was a part of the Ranji Trophy until 1954/55 season. In their 14 years in the tournament, they appeared in the finals 10 times and won the coveted cup 4 times. After the 1954/55 season, the team was disintegrated and a Madhya Bharat team was formed instead. Two years later, this team was submerged into the Madhya Pradesh team. They last won the Ranji Trophy in 1952/53 season.
Bengal has appeared in the Finals 13 times but won a mere 2 times. It last won the trophy in 1990 and plays its home matches in the iconic Eden Gardens in Kolkata. Since the 1989/90 Season, Bengal has reached the finals 3 times, including 2 back to back finals in the 2006/07 season and the 2007/08 season, but has not been able to bring the trophy home.
Apart from Bengal, Tamil Nadu (previously known as Madras), Rajasthan, Hyderabad, Maharashtra, Railways and Saurashtra have all won the trophy twice.
Gujarat reached the final of the Ranji Trophy for the second time in the 2016/17 season and came up against the might of the record-breaking Mumbai Team at the Holkar Stadium, Indore. The final match was played from 10th to 14th January 2017. The Gujarat Team, led by a fabulous Parthiv Patel, were not ready to be intimated by the reputation of the Mumbai side. Patil inspired his team, leading from the front in a Man of the Match performance, and Gujarat won the match by 5 wickets to lift their first-ever Ranji Trophy.
The following year, in the 2017/18 season Ranji Trophy Final, Vidarbha, the third Ranji Trophy team from Gujarat, faced 7 times champions Delhi, in another David vs Goliath encounter. The final was played from 29th December 2017 to 2nd January 2018. Vidarbha had appeared in the Final for the first time, facing a strong Delhi side. However, Vidarbha rose to the occasion, keeping in tune with their brilliant performance in the entire tournament and won the game, played once again at the Holkar Stadium, Indore, by 9 wickets.
In the latest edition of Ranji trophy, Saurashtra Beat Bengal To Clinch Maiden Ranji Trophy Title.
Along with Gujarat and Vidarbha, Uttar Pradesh (previously United Provinces), Punjab (previously South Punjab) and Haryana have been Ranji Trophy winners once. Services, Bihar and Northern India have appeared in the finals without winning the trophy.
# Unbreakable Records in Ranji Trophy
The Ranji Trophy has always been a stepping stone for future cricket stars in India. Indeed some of the records set by stalwarts of Indian Cricket in the Ranji Trophy are yet to be broken.
- Anil Kumble, ex-skipper and former Manager of Team India set the record of best match bowling in the history of the Ranji Trophy, with a figure of 16/99, in the match between Karnataka and Kerala, in the 1994/95 season.
- V.V.S. Laxman’s records of Most runs in a season – 1415 and most centuries in the season – 8, both while playing for Hyderabad in the 1999 – 2000 season still stands.
- Bishan Bedi, while playing for Delhi in the 1974/75 season, took 64 wickets – the most wickets in a season. However, there are some tragic records as well.
- Rajinder Goel, who played Ranji Trophy from 1958 to 1985, took the most career wickets in the tournament, but unfortunately never played for the Indian Cricket Team.
The Ranji Trophy will continue to be the premier domestic cricket tournament in India, with its rich heritage and its long history. Indian cricket enthusiasts will continue to spot future stars among its ranks. Players will lean into the tournament to regain form and fight for a place in the Indian Team. With a record number of teams in the upcoming season, Ranji Trophy looks set to continue being the showcase of new talent and old guards in a promising mixture of the old and the new. It is the stage where the new talents dream to make their mark and write their names among the stars of the yesteryears. With just a couple of months to go for the 2020/21 season, the cricketing fans of India are eagerly waiting for the Ranji Trophy and one can rest assured that the 87th season of the Ranji Trophy will be even more enticing.
