Ranji Trophy

The Ranji Trophy is the domestic first-class cricket championship played in India between state and city sides, equivalent to county cricket in England and the Pura Cup in Australia, and also denotes the trophy that is awarded to the winner.

Related Topics:
First-class cricket - India - County cricket - England - Pura Cup - Australia - Trophy

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The competition is named after Kumar Shri Ranjitsinhji (Jam Sahib of Nawanagar, also known as "Ranji"). The competition was launched as "The Cricket Championship of India" following a meeting of the Board of Control for Cricket in India in July 1934, with the first fixtures taking place in 1934-35. The Trophy itself was donated by H.H. Sir Bhupendra Singh Mahinder Bahadur, Maharajah of Patiala.

Related Topics:
Kumar Shri Ranjitsinhji - Jam Sahib - Nawanagar - Bhupendra Singh Mahinder Bahadur - Maharajah - Patiala

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Most of the teams plaing in the Ranji Trophy represent states of India. With changes in state boundaries, some states have more than one team (such as Maharashtra and Gujarat) and others have none. The competition also includes some other teams, such as Railways, and Services representing the armed forces.

Related Topics:
States of India - Maharashtra - Gujarat - Railways - Services

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Before the 2002-03 season, the teams were grouped into five zones (North, West, East, Central and South) and initial matches are played within the zones on a league basis. The top teams (two until 1991-92, since then three) from each zone played in a national knock-out competition, leading to a final which decided the destination of the Trophy.

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Starting with the 2002-03 season, the zonal system was abandoned and a two-division structure was adopted the elite and the plate divisions.

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The Elite division is divided into two groups of eight and seven teams. The plate division is divided into two groups of six teams each. In both divisions, the top two teams from each group advance to the knock-out phase. The finalists from the plate division are promoted into the Elite Division the next year while the bottom two from the elite division are relegated.

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