Format
Most of the teams playing in the Ranji Trophy represent states of India; there are two teams representing regions within a state (Vidarbha and Saurashtra); three teams that represent individual cities (Mumbai, Baroda and Hyderabad) and two teams based in Delhi but with no regional affiliations (Railways and Services).
From its inception until the 2001-02 season, the teams were grouped geographically into four or five zones – North, West, East, and South, with Central added in 1952-53. Initial matches were played within the zones on a knock-out basis until 1956-57, and thereafter on a league basis, to determine a winner. Then, the individual zone winners competed in a knock-out tournament, leading to a final which decided the winner of the Ranji Trophy. In the 1970-71 season, the knock-out stage was expanded to the top two teams from each zone, a total of ten qualifying teams. This was expanded again to the top three from each zone in 1992-93, a total of fifteen qualifying teams; between 1996-97 and 1999-2000, the fifteen qualifying teams competed in a secondary group stage, with three groups of five teams, and the top two from each group qualifying for the knock-out stage; in all other years, a full fifteen-team knock-out tournament was held.
The format was changed in 2002–03 season with the zonal system abandoned and a two-division structure was adopted – the Elite Group, containing fifteen teams, and the Plate Group, containing the rest. Each group has two sub-groups who play a round-robin; the top two from each sub-group then contest a knock-out tournament to determine the winner. The team which finishes last in each Elite sub-group is relegated, and both Plate Group finalists are promoted, for the following season. For the 2006–07 season, the divisions were re-labelled the Super League and Plate League respectively.
In the 2008–09 season, the current format was adopted to allow Plate Group teams to contest the Ranji Trophy. The top two from each Plate sub-group contest semi-finals; the winners of these two matches then join the top three from each Super League sub-group in an eight-team knock-out tournament. The winner of this knock-out tournament then wins the Ranji Trophy. In 2010-11 season, history was created when a plate group team "Rajasthan" not only entered into the Elite Group but went on to win their maiden Ranji Trophy final.
From the 2012-13 season, the format was revamped completely. The Super and plate groups were cancelled and in place, a format with A,B,C group was created. Three teams from group A&B proceeded to knockouts and 2 from group C. The two lowest placed team of Group A were relegated to Group B next time, Two lowest placed of group B relegated to C . Top two teams of Group C promoted to group B and top two teams of group B promoted to group A. The knockout format remains same except that, to get a outright result from final an extra sixth day is available instead of the restricted five days
Knock-out matches in the Ranji Trophy are decided on the first innings result if the final result is a draw.
The matches are a 4 day match format except for the final which is played for five days just as a regular test match.
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