Bengal vs Delhi, Elite Group C, Ranji Trophy Elite 2026-27

Bengal vs Delhi, Ranji Trophy 2026-27: Match Preview

Elite Group C | October 11, 2026 | 04:30 GMT (9:30 AM IST)

The Ranji Trophy 2026-27 kicks off on Sunday, October 11, 2026, and one of the opening-day fixtures in Elite Group C sees Bengal take on Delhi. As India's premier first-class competition returns after a rejuvenated domestic calendar—anchored this year by the Duleep Trophy (from August 23) and the Irani Cup (from October 1)—this clash marks the beginning of a campaign that will run until March 3, 2027.

Here's everything you need to know ahead of this Group C opener.

Tournament Context

The BCCI has confirmed a two-phase format for the 2026-27 season, with 32 teams split into four Elite Groups of eight, alongside a six-team Plate Group. The top two sides from each Elite Group will advance to the Super League phase, with group toppers set to meet in the final.

• Defending champions: Jammu & Kashmir (Elite League), Bihar (Plate League)
• Group C opponents: Bengal, Delhi, Gujarat, Jharkhand, Kerala, Maharashtra, Odisha, Services
• Match start: 9:30 AM IST on October 11, 2026

This season's opening leg is scheduled from October 11 to November 5, 2026, with the second leg running from January 17 to February 4, 2027. The knockouts—including the Super League phase and final—follow from February 9 to March 3, 2027.

Team Squads

Bengal (Captain: Abhimanyu Easwaran)

Abhimanyu Easwaran will lead a squad that blends experience with pace firepower:

• Abhimanyu Easwaran (c), Sudip Gharami (vc), Sudip Chatterjee, Ankur Paul, Ankit Shukla, Abishek Porel, Shakir Gandhi, Subham Chatterjee, Sumanta Gupta, Mohammad Shami, Akash Deep, Mukesh Kumar, Pradipta Pramanik, Aamir Gani, Md. Kaif, Suraj Sindhu Jaiswal, Soummyadip Mondal

The presence of Mohammad Shami, Akash Deep, and Mukesh Kumar gives Bengal a potent bowling attack, while the batting lineup relies on the steadying hand of Easwaran at the top.

Delhi (Captain: Ayush Badoni)

Delhi come into the season with a strong batting core:

• Ayush Badoni (c), Yash Dhull (vc), Anuj Rawat (wk), Sanat Sangwan, Ayush Doseja, Dev Lakra, Hritik Shokeen, Divij Mehra, Money Grewal, Simarjeet Singh, Navdeep Saini, Pranav Rajvanshi (wk), Sarthak Ranjan, Tejasvi, Dhruv Kaushik, Sumit Mathur

With captain Ayush Badoni, vice-captain Yash Dhull, and wicketkeeper Anuj Rawat anchoring the side, Delhi have a balanced mix of youth and red-ball experience, complemented by pace options like Navdeep Saini and Simarjeet Singh.

What to Expect

This is a Group C fixture that could set the tone for both teams' campaigns in the opening phase. Bengal's pace battery—headlined by Shami—will look to exploit the new ball, while Delhi's technically sound batting order will aim to capitalize on the four-day format's demands.

A notable storyline emerging from the group stage is the quality of the playing surface and how each side adapts. For context, Bengal's Group A rivals Vidarbha's veteran opener Wasim Jaffer recently made history by becoming the first player to score 10,000 runs in Ranji Trophy history—a reminder of the depth of talent this tournament nurtures.

How to Watch

• TV: Broadcast on the JioStar Network's Star Sports channels
• Streaming: Available live on JioHotstar (subscription required)

Note: Coverage may vary match-by-match, with knockout rounds typically receiving wider broadcast exposure than league-stage clashes.

Key Players to Watch

Final Thoughts

As the Ranji Trophy 2026-27 gets underway, this Bengal vs Delhi encounter promises to be a compelling Group C contest. With strong pace attacks on both sides and well-rounded batting lineups, either team could emerge as early frontrunners in Elite Group C.

Stay tuned as India's most prestigious domestic tournament begins its journey toward the final on March 3, 2027.