Ranji Trophy (India) 2023/24

The Ranji Trophy stands as India's premier domestic first-class cricket championship, organized by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). Established for the 1934–35 season, the tournament was proposed by Anthony de Mello, the BCCI's first secretary, with the trophy donated by Maharaja Bhupinder Singh of Patiala. The competition sits at the top of the Indian domestic cricket pyramid for first-class cricket, serving as the primary preparation ground for Test cricket players.

The tournament structure has evolved significantly over time. As of the 2024–25 season, the competition features teams divided into two divisions: the Elite Division and the Plate Division. The Elite Division comprises thirty-two teams split into four groups of eight teams each, while the Plate Division contains six teams. Teams play a single round-robin format within their respective groups. In the Elite Division, the top two teams from each group qualify for the quarter-finals, followed by semi-finals and a final. The Plate Division winner also qualifies for the quarter-finals stage. Matches in the Elite Division are played over five days, whereas Plate Division fixtures last four days.

A formal two-division structure with promotion and relegation was introduced in the 2019–20 season, replacing earlier formats that varied between knockout and zonal systems. The top two teams from the Plate Division are promoted to the Elite Division, while the bottom two teams from the Elite Division face relegation.

Mumbai holds the record for the most successes in the tournament's history, winning the title forty-two times. Vidarbha claimed the most recent championship after defeating Kerala in the final. The competition remains distinct from India's other domestic tournaments, such as the Vijay Hazare Trophy and the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, through its multi-day format and focus on endurance.