The 91st edition of the Ranji Trophy kicked-off on Wednesday, marking the start of India’s top domestic cricket competition with 32 teams in action. This season, six teams are competing for the Plate Championship, and a total of 138 matches will be played across two phases. The first phase runs from mid-October to late November, after which the focus will shift to white-ball tournaments, which is for the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and the Vijay Hazare Trophy. The Ranji Trophy will resume in January, with the final scheduled by the end of February.

Forty-two-time champions Mumbai enters the tournament with strong ambitions under their new captain, Shardul Thakur. After being knocked out in the semi-final by Vidarbha last season, the defending champions and Irani Cup winners Mumbai, will aim

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