Ranji Trophy 2025-26: A look at the likely quarter-finalists based on current form, points table standings, and key matches ahead.
The 91st edition of the Ranji Trophy is heading into the knockouts, with each of the 32 teams having just the last round league games to go. While Bengal and Mumbai have all but sealed the Quarter-Finals spot, 12 sides are in contention for the six available slots.
These last round fixtures will tell us which of these six will join Bengal & Mumbai in the knockouts. In this article, we will talk about the likely quarter-finalists in the 2025-26 Ranji season.
Group D: Likely Quarter-Finalists – Mumbai & J&K
Teams in contention: Mumbai – 30 points, Jammu & Kashmir – 21 points, Chhattisgarh – 17 points
Last Round Fixtures: Mumbai vs Delhi, J&K vs Himachal Pradesh, Chhattisgarh vs Hyderabad
Mumbai have already sealed its place in the quarter-finals as none of the sides will come close to them, irrespective of the result for them.
J&K, who are on an unbeaten run in their last five games, need a win or draw (with a first innings) to secure a spot in the QF. They are set to face Himachal Pradesh, a team that is yet to win a game this Ranji Trophy, and are the favourites to be the second-placed team from Group B.
Chhattisgarh will face Hyderabad and need to win with a bonus point to take themselves to a maximum of 24 points. They would have to rely on the result of the J&K-HP fixture and would want either J&K to lose or not gain a first innings lead in case of a draw.
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Group C: Likely Quarter-Finalists – Bengal & Uttarakhand
Teams in contention: Bengal – 30 points, Haryana – 24 points, Uttarakhand – 22 points, Services – 19 points
Last Round Fixtures: Bengal vs Haryana, Uttarakhand vs Assam, Services vs Railways
Like Mumbai, Bengal has already sealed its Quarter-final in this Ranji Trophy. They will face Haryana, for whom this last round fixture is particularly important.
A win here for Haryana would qualify both Haryana and Bengal for the knockout. In case they lose, Haryana can still qualify provided that both Uttarakhand & Services lose their respective fixture.
Uttarakhand will face Assam and has the best chance among all the teams to get a win with a bonus point. Given that, they still need Haryana to lose or draw against Bengal to qualify.
The same goes for Services, which face a tricky opponent in Railways. They need a win and also a loss for both Uttarakhand & Haryana.
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Group B: Likely Quarter-Finalists – Maharashtra/MP and Karnataka
Teams in contention: Maharashtra – 24 points, Madhya Pradesh – 22 points, Karnataka – 21 points, Saurashtra – 19 points
Last Round Fixtures: Maharashtra vs Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka vs Punjab, Saurashtra vs Chandigarh
Scenario 1 – The winner will go through to the QF
In a virtual knockout, Maharashtra takes on Madhya Pradesh in the last-round Ranji Trophy game of the 2025-26 season. The sides that win will automatically go through to the Quarter-final, while the losers of the match can still go through, provided Karnataka and Saurashtra lose theirs.
Scenario 2 – Karnataka wins, they go through
The former champions will qualify for the last eight stage if they win, as they will reach 27. In that case, even if the MP-Maharashtra game ends in a draw, the former gets to 25 and the latter 27.
However, if Karnataka draws their fixture with Punjab with the first-inning lead, they would like Maharashtra to win the game, as it would mean MP’s points will remain lower than Karnataka’s 24. In case MP wins, Karnataka will have to hope their NRR is better than Maharashtra’s.
If Karnataka loses, they will be out of the tournament.
Scenario 3: Saurashtra needs to win (with/without bonus points)
A win over Chandigarh can take Saurashtra’s points to a maximum of 26. However, they need to rely on the other result as well.
For Saurashtra to qualify, Punjab needs to defeat or draw with Karnataka, as the latter’s points will not go beyond 24.
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Group A: Likely Quarter-Finalists – Andhra & Jharkhand
Teams in Contention: Andhra Pradesh – 28 points, Jharkhand – 25 points (NRR +1.605), Vidarbha -25 points (NRR 1.578)
Last Round Fixtures: Andhra Pradesh vs Nagaland, Jharkhand vs Odisha, Vidarbha vs Uttar Pradesh
Andhra Pradesh – Favourites to top Group A
In their last fixture, they are scheduled to face Nagaland, who have just a solitary point and will likely finish with 34 or 35 points.
The main focus in the group will be on the other two sides, Jharkhand & UP, and their respective fixtures. Both these sides will face stiff challenges in the last group fixture, and more so for Vidarbha, who will face the fourth-placed UP team. On the other hand, Jharkhand is lined up to face Odisha, who are seventh in the table.
Both Jharkhand and Vidarbha need a win or, if possible, come out on top with a bonus point. If they both finish on the same points (on account of a win or draw), then Quotient (Runs Per Wicket Ratio) comes into play.
As the 2025–26 Ranji Trophy moves beyond its gruelling league stage, the focus now shifts to knockout intensity. The quarter-finals are scheduled from February 6 to 10, 2026, with the top performers from each Elite group earning their spots in this cut-throat phase. The two semi-finals will be held from February 15 to 19, before the season culminates in the final from February 24 to 28, 2026, where India’s premier first-class crown will be decided. These key dates underline the tournament’s long arc from October to late February, giving many domestic stars a chance to shine on cricket’s most traditional stage.
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