Interesting Facts About the Duleep Trophy and Ranji Trophy | Duleep Trophy and Ranji Trophy 2024

In India, every other person is a cricket fan. The reasons for playing cricket can vary. It can be anything from the aspiration to be an international cricketer to play gulley cricket for a fun time.

However, to be selected at the International level you have to go through many different tournaments like Duleep Trophy & Ranji Trophy. Let`s learn more interesting facts about the Duleep trophy and Ranji trophy.

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Path of Duleep Trophy and Ranji Trophy

In a Metro city like Mumbai which has a lot of opportunities for sports. The start is at the school level. Playing for schools like Sundarashram is also a pride. Sachin Tendulkar and Vinod Kambli started by laying for Sundarashram.

After playing for the school, you will have to play for other tournaments such as Harris Shield, Giles Shield, and many other tournaments.

Once you have played in all these tournaments, you will be eligible for the Duleep Trophy & Ranji Trophy. And after the Duleep Trophy, you can play for the Ranji Trophy.

Ranji Trophy is one step below state-level becoming a first-class cricketer. All said and done Duleep Trophy is the more individualistic tournament where you play for your runs and wickets.

While the Duleep Trophy & Ranji Trophy are team-oriented to showcase your team spirit.

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History of Duleep Trophy and Ranji Trophy

Dilip Trophy was started by the Board of Control for Cricket in India on 30 September 1961 and played for the year 1961–62. The first tournament was won by West Zone by defeating South Zone in the final by 10 wickets.

In the 1962–63 season, four of the five teams (all except Central Zone) had their bowling attacks strengthened by a West Indies Test cricketer.

North and West Zone have been the most successful teams with 18 wins each. North’s total wins include one shared trophy and West’s includes three.

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The Ranji Trophy was started after the first meeting in July 1934, with the first fixtures taking place in 1934–35. The trophy was donated by Bhupinder Singh, the Maharaja of Patiala. 

The first match of the competition was held on 4 November 1934 between Madras and Mysore at the Chepauk ground in Madras.

Mumbai (Bombay) have won the tournament the highest number of times with 41 wins, which includes 15 back-to-back wins from 1958 to 59 to 1972–73.

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Tournament Format of Duleep Trophy and Ranji Trophy

From when it started in 19-61 till 2014-15, the Dilip Trophy was played between five Indian zonal teams, namely North Zone, South Zone, East Zone, West Zone and Central Zone. In the original format, the five teams played knock-out matches with each other.

However, from the 1993–94 season, the competition was converted to a league format. For the 2002–03 season, the zonal teams were replaced by 5 new teams – Elite A, Elite B, Elite C, Plate A and Plate B.

These teams were constructed from the new Elite Group and Plate Group divisions, which had been introduced into the Ranji Trophy that season. This format lasted for only one season, as it was observed that the new teams lacked identity.

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From 2003 04 to 2008, the original five zonal teams competed along with a sixth guest team, which was a foreign team. The first guest team was England A in 2003–04. After 2008, the format was replaced by the original 5-team knockout tournament until the 2014-15 season.

The Duleep Trophy was not held in 2015-16 but returned to the calendar in 2016-17 with a new format. Three teams chosen by the BCCI selectors took part, designated India Blue, India Green and India Red.

The teams played a round-robin tournament, with the top two advancing to the final, which India Blue won. The competition was held at the start of the season and all games were staged as day-night games with a pink ball used.

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At the beginning of Duleep Trophy and Ranji Trophy

From when it started in 1934 till the 2001 season, the teams were grouped geographically into four or five zones – North, West, East, and South. Central Zone was added in 1952–53. Initial matches were played within the zones on a knock-out basis until 1956–57.

After this season tournament was played on a league basis. After it again the tournament was played the five individual zone winners competed in a knock-out tournament.

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Leading to a final which decided the winner of the Ranji Trophy. From 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 and three groups of five teams, and the top two from each group qualified for a six-team knock-out stage.

Until 2001–02, a full fifteen-team knock-out tournament was held.

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Duleep Trophy and Ranji Trophy in the year 2002-03

The format was changed in the 2002–03 season, with the zonal system abandoned and a two-division structure adopted. The Elite Group, containing fifteen teams, and the Plate Group, containing the rest. Each group had two sub-groups that played a round-robin.

The top two from each Elite sub-group then contested a four-team knock-out tournament to determine the winner of the Ranji Trophy.

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The team which finished last in each Elite sub-group was relegated, and both Plate Group finalists were 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, this format was adjusted to allow both Super League and Plate League teams to contest the Ranji Trophy. The top two from each Plate sub-group contested the semi-finals.

The winners of these two matches then joined the top three from each Super League sub-group in an eight-team knock-out tournament. The winner of this knock-out tournament then won the Ranji Trophy.

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Duleep Trophy and Ranji Trophy in the year 2012-13

From the 2012–13 season, this format was adjusted slightly. The Super League and Plate League names were abandoned, but the two-tier system remained. The top tier expanded from fifteen teams to eighteen teams.

In two sub-groups of nine (known as Group A and Group B, and considered equal in status); the second tier was reduced to nine teams in a single group (known as Group C).

The top three teams from Groups A and B and the top two from Group C contest the knockout phase. The lowest-placed team in each of Group A and Group B is relegated to Group C, and the top two from Group C are promoted to the top tier.

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For the 2017-18 season, the two-tier system was abandoned to have 4 groups of seven teams each and two quarter-finalists from each group. From the 2018-19 season, the teams contested in three tiers.

Five teams will qualify for the quarter-finals from the top tier (known as Elite Group A and Group B). Two teams will qualify from the second tier (Elite Group C) and One team from the lower tier (Plate Group) for the quarter-finals.

Before the 2016–17 season, matches were played at the home ground of one of the two teams taking part. For the 2016–17 competition, the BCCI decided that all games would be staged at a neutral venue.

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Bottom Line on Duleep Trophy and Ranji Trophy

Every success is important, but players generally value the state team’s success more. It is said that the standard of cricket in the Duleep Trophy & Ranji Trophy is better as the best players from the country are playing there.

Individual performances bring more satisfaction here. It still is a big thing to play Duleep Trophy. You can ask those who played for a lot of trophies but couldn’t make it to the Duleep Trophy.

When you get that opportunity, you should get over all the issues, and as a professional look at it as an opportunity and step closer to the goal.

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Duleep Trophy and Ranji Trophy: FAQ

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