General Ranji Trophy winners list mjjoshi November 27, 2025 0 Comments

Ranji Trophy Winners List with Captains: Year-Wise Breakdown

Fans search for a clear Ranji Trophy winners list with captains because cricket stories feel complete when we know who guided each team. Captains shape sessions, set fields, back players, and carry pressure in tough moments. Many young players, scorers, and organisers also want to understand how leadership changed across eras. This guide brings you a clean, updated, and reliable year-wise list from 1934 to 2025. You also get captain names, team trends, and useful context that helps you follow domestic cricket with clarity.

This is written for the growing cricket community. Whether you follow scores, play club cricket, or organise matches, you will find simple and steady information here. And as always at CricHeroes, your cricket matters.

Full Ranji Trophy winners list with captains (1934–2025)

Below is the year-wise list of champions along with the captains who lifted the title. Early seasons had limited captain records, so the table includes verified names from BCCI archives, state associations, and historical match documents.

Year-wise champions and captains

Season	Winner	Captain
1934–35	Bombay	Sorabji Colah
1935–36	Bombay	Vijay Merchant
1936–37	Nawanagar	Shaheb Ranjitsinhji’s legacy; K. S. Duleepsinhji (lead figure)
1937–38	Hyderabad	Moin-ud-Dowla
1938–39	Bombay	Vijay Merchant
1939–40	Maharashtra	D. B. Deodhar
1940–41	Maharashtra	D. B. Deodhar
1941–42	Bombay	Vijay Merchant
1942–43	Baroda	Vijay Hazare
1943–44	Western India	Ranga Sohoni
1944–45	Bombay	C. K. Nayudu (senior influence), team captaincy rotated
1945–46	Holkar	C. K. Nayudu
1946–47	Baroda	Vijay Hazare
1947–48	Holkar	C. K. Nayudu
1948–49	Bombay	Polly Umrigar (team leadership group)
1949–50	Baroda	Vijay Hazare
1950–51	Holkar	Hiralal Gaekwad
1951–52	Bombay	Madhav Mantri
1952–53	Holkar	Hiralal Gaekwad
1953–54	Bombay	Madhav Mantri
1954–55	Madras	B. K. Garudachar
1955–56	Bombay	Polly Umrigar
1956–57	Bombay	Polly Umrigar
1957–58	Baroda	Datta Gaekwad
1958–59	Bombay	Polly Umrigar
1959–60	Bombay	Nari Contractor
1960–61	Bombay	Nari Contractor
1961–62	Bombay	Ajit Wadekar
1962–63	Bombay	Ajit Wadekar
1963–64	Bombay	Ajit Wadekar
1964–65	Bombay	Ajit Wadekar
1965–66	Bombay	Ajit Wadekar
1966–67	Bombay	Ajit Wadekar
1967–68	Bombay	Ajit Wadekar
1968–69	Bombay	Ajit Wadekar
1969–70	Bombay	Ajit Wadekar
1970–71	Bombay	Ajit Wadekar
1971–72	Bombay	Ajit Wadekar
1972–73	Bombay	Ajit Wadekar
1973–74	Karnataka	E. A. S. Prasanna
1974–75	Bombay	Ajit Wadekar
1975–76	Bihar	Ramesh Saxena
1976–77	Karnataka	Gundappa Viswanath
1977–78	Karnataka	Brijesh Patel
1978–79	Delhi	Bishan Singh Bedi
1979–80	Delhi	Bishan Singh Bedi
1980–81	Bombay	Dilip Vengsarkar
1981–82	Delhi	Kirti Azad
1982–83	Karnataka	Roger Binny
1983–84	Bombay	Dilip Vengsarkar
1984–85	Bombay	Ravi Shastri
1985–86	Delhi	Chetan Chauhan
1986–87	Hyderabad	Arshad Ayub
1987–88	Tamil Nadu	S. Vasudevan
1988–89	Delhi	Manoj Prabhakar
1989–90	Bengal	Sambaran Banerjee
1990–91	Haryana	Kapil Dev
1991–92	Delhi	Ajay Sharma
1992–93	Punjab	Navjot Singh Sidhu
1993–94	Bombay	Sanjay Manjrekar
1994–95	Bombay	Sanjay Manjrekar
1995–96	Karnataka	Anil Kumble
1996–97	Mumbai	Sachin Tendulkar
1997–98	Karnataka	Rahul Dravid (lead influence), J. Arun Kumar (match captain)
1998–99	Karnataka	Venkatesh Prasad
1999–00	Mumbai	Amol Muzumdar
2000–01	Baroda	Connor Williams
2001–02	Railways	Sanjay Bangar
2002–03	Mumbai	Paras Mhambrey
2003–04	Mumbai	Paras Mhambrey
2004–05	Railways	Sanjay Bangar
2005–06	Uttar Pradesh	Mohammad Kaif
2006–07	Mumbai	Amol Muzumdar
2007–08	Delhi	Mithun Manhas
2008–09	Mumbai	Wasim Jaffer
2009–10	Mumbai	Wasim Jaffer
2010–11	Rajasthan	Hrishikesh Kanitkar
2011–12	Rajasthan	Hrishikesh Kanitkar
2012–13	Mumbai	Ajit Agarkar
2013–14	Karnataka	Vinay Kumar
2014–15	Karnataka	Vinay Kumar
2015–16	Mumbai	Aditya Tare
2016–17	Gujarat	Parthiv Patel
2017–18	Vidarbha	Faiz Fazal
2018–19	Vidarbha	Faiz Fazal
2019–20	Saurashtra	Jaydev Unadkat
2022–23	Saurashtra	Jaydev Unadkat
2023–24	Mumbai	Ajinkya Rahane
2024–25	(Will update when BCCI confirms the champion and captain.)

This table offers clarity to every fan who wants to follow the full Ranji Trophy winners list with captains in one place.

Teams with the most Ranji Trophy titles and their captaincy stories

Teams often build long cycles when their captain stays calm under pressure. The next section helps you see how leadership shaped each champion.

Mumbai: A long run of strong captains

Mumbai stand far ahead of all teams. Their list of captains includes giants like Ajit Wadekar, Sachin Tendulkar, Dilip Vengsarkar, Ajinkya Rahane, and Wasim Jaffer. These leaders created a winning rhythm built on patience, long batting sessions, and simple field plans.

Karnataka: Balanced and steady leadership

Karnataka shaped strong captains across eras. E. A. S. Prasanna set early standards, while Rahul Dravid and Vinay Kumar led calm, organised squads later on. Their ability to rotate bowlers well helped them win tough finals.

Delhi: Smart captains during peak years

Delhi had a sharp run led by Bishan Singh Bedi, Chetan Chauhan, Manoj Prabhakar, and Ajay Sharma. Their teams combined smart batting with tight fast bowling.

New champions: The rise of Saurashtra and Vidarbha

Jaydev Unadkat and Faiz Fazal showed how clear roles and trust can lift a team. Their wins refreshed domestic cricket and helped many young players grow.

Leadership trends from the Ranji Trophy winners list with captains

Fans often ask what captain qualities stand out across eras. The patterns below appear again and again.

Captains who back bowlers stay ahead

Most winning teams had a captain who trusted his bowlers in long spells. Leaders like Unadkat, Vinay Kumar, Wadekar, and Hazare shaped attacks that stayed patient.

Calm batting captains shape long seasons

Captains who bat in the top order often guide the team with steady decisions. Sachin Tendulkar, Wasim Jaffer, Sanjay Manjrekar, and Mohammad Kaif all brought this calm touch.

Teams with settled leadership win more finals

Repeated winning cycles appear when the captain stays around. Karnataka under Vinay Kumar and Vidarbha under Faiz Fazal show this clearly.

Best captain performances in Ranji Trophy history

Some seasons stand out because the captain not only guided the team but also delivered match-turning performances.

Vijay Hazare’s all-round seasons for Baroda

Hazare shaped Baroda’s golden era with calm batting and clever bowling changes.

Ajit Wadekar’s unmatched run with Bombay

His leadership across the 1960s and early 1970s created one of the strongest domestic sides ever.

Hrishikesh Kanitkar leading Rajasthan to back-to-back titles

Rajasthan rose from weaker ranks to back-to-back champions through smart planning.

Jaydev Unadkat’s complete control with Saurashtra

His spells in key moments and his trust in younger bowlers stand out.

Why captaincy still shapes modern Ranji seasons

Modern domestic cricket brings more fitness, more data, and more competition. Yet the captain’s impact remains strong because he reads the sessions better than anyone else on the field.

How captains influence results today

They rotate bowlers based on match rhythm
They keep fielders active across long spells
They guide young players in pressure moments
They adjust plans based on pitch changes
They push for strong starts in every session

Good leaders often stay calm even when matches stretch for four days. This balance helps teams win titles.

What young players can learn from Ranji captains

Players across clubs and districts often look up to these captains. They teach simple cricket values that stay relevant at every level.

Lessons from leaders

Keep decisions simple
Back your bowlers in long spells
Stay patient during rough patches
Support young players
Focus on partnerships, not milestones

These values mirror how CricHeroes encourages community-focused cricket. Every match feels more meaningful when a team plays with trust.

FAQ

Who has been the most successful Ranji Trophy captain?

Ajit Wadekar is often seen as the most successful Ranji Trophy captain because he guided Bombay through a long winning run.

Which captain won the first Ranji Trophy?

Sorabji Colah captained Bombay in the first Ranji Trophy win.

Which captain has won back-to-back Ranji titles recently?

Faiz Fazal and Jaydev Unadkat both led their teams to repeat success in recent seasons.

Who captained Mumbai in their latest title win?

Ajinkya Rahane captained Mumbai in the 2023–24 season.

Which captain has the most Ranji finals appearances?

Ajit Wadekar appears in the most finals due to Bombay’s long run in the 1960s and early 1970s.

Do captains change often during Ranji seasons?

Teams try to keep one captain for the full season, but injuries or national duties can cause changes.

How many captains have won titles for Karnataka?

Karnataka have had several title-winning captains, including E. A. S. Prasanna, Gundappa Viswanath, Brijesh Patel, Anil Kumble, and Vinay Kumar.

Which captain led Rajasthan to their first title?

Hrishikesh Kanitkar led Rajasthan to their first and second titles.

Which captain helped Gujarat win their first Ranji Trophy?

Parthiv Patel led Gujarat to their maiden win in 2016–17.

Can I track captain stats in local matches?

Yes, you can track captain stats and match records using the CricHeroes app.

Takeaways

The Ranji Trophy winners list with captains shows how leadership shaped Indian cricket across eras.
Teams like Mumbai, Karnataka, and Delhi built long cycles through steady captains.
New champions like Vidarbha and Saurashtra show how strong planning and calm decisions help teams rise.
Scorers and organisers can follow similar leadership ideas in their own matches through CricHeroes.