Ranji Trophy 2002-03
Elite Group & Schedule
The 2002-03 Ranji Trophy season will see the introduction of the two-tier format.
As per the new structure, 15 teams, three from each of the five zones, are placed in the elite 'A' division, and 12 teams in the 'B' division. The teams in the 'A' division will compete with each other on a league format and the team with the highest points will be adjudged Ranji champions.
Similarly, 12 teams in the 'B' division will play a league and the team emerging leader on points would be declared Ranji Plate champion.
Holders Railways, Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Andhra, Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan and Bengal make up the Elite 'A' group while Baroda, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Assam, Orissa and Tamil Nadu comprise the 'B' group.
In the Plate division, Goa, Saurashtra, Kerala, Services, Vidarbha, Tripura are in the 'A' group while Karnataka, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Haryana, Jammu & Kashmir and Bihar make up group 'B'.
The Plate champions and runners-up will be promoted to the Elite division and, consequently, the teams featuring last in the group 'A' and 'B' in the Elite category will be relegated.
Elite Group:
| Group "A" | Group "B" |
| Railways | Baroda |
| Delhi | Punjab |
| Mumbai | Orissa |
| Hyderabad | Assam |
| Andhra | Gujarat |
| Himachal Pradesh | Uttar Pradesh |
| Bengal | Tamil Nadu |
| Rajasthan | |
First Round:
| Dates | Between | Venue |
| 09-12 Nov | Delhi v Railways | Delhi |
| 09-12 Nov | Hyderabad v Mumbai | Hyderabad |
| 09-12 Nov | Andhra v Himachal Pradesh | Andhra |
| 09-12 Nov | Bengal v Rajasthan | Kolkata |
| 09-12 Nov | Punjab v Baroda | Mohali |
| 09-12 Nov | Assam v Orissa | Guwahati |
| 09-12 Nov | Gujarat v Uttar Pradesh | Ahmedabad |
Second Round:
| Dates | Between | Venue |
| 17-20 Nov | Rajasthan v Railways | Jaipur |
| 17-20 Nov | Mumbai v Delhi | Mumbai |
| 17-20 Nov | Andhra v Hyderabad | Andhra |
| 17-20 Nov | Bengal v Himachal Pradesh | Kolkata |
| 17-20 Nov | Tamil Nadu v Baroda | Chennai |
| 17-20 Nov | Orissa v Punjab | Cuttack |
| 17-20 Nov | Gujarat v Assam | Ahmedabad |
Third Round:
| Dates | Between | Venue |
| 27-30 Nov | Bengal v Railways | Kolkata |
| 27-30 Nov | Delhi v Himachal Pradesh | Delhi |
| 27-30 Nov | Mumbai v Andhra | Mumbai |
| 27-30 Nov | Rajasthan v Hyderabad | Rajasthan |
| 27-30 Nov | Orissa v Baroda | Cuttack |
| 27-30 Nov | Assam v Punjab | Assam |
| 27-30 Nov | Tamil Nadu v Uttar Pradesh | Chennai |
Fourth Round:
| Dates | Between | Venue |
| 19-22 Dec | Railways v Mumbai | Delhi |
| 19-22 Dec | Delhi v Andhra | Delhi |
| 19-22 Dec | Hyderabad v Bengal | Hyderabad |
| 19-22 Dec | Rajasthan v Himachal Pradesh | Rajasthan |
| 19-22 Dec | Gujarat v Baroda | Ahmedabad |
| 19-22 Dec | Punjab v Uttar Pradesh | Mohali |
| 19-22 Dec | Tamil Nadu v Orissa | Chennai |
Fifth Round:
| Dates | Between | Venue |
| 28-31 Dec | Andhra v Railways | Andhra |
| 28-31 Dec | Rajasthan v Delhi | Rajasthan |
| 28-31 Dec | Mumbai v Bengal | Mumbai |
| 28-31 Dec | Himachal Pradesh v Hyderabad | Himachal Pradesh |
| 28-31 Dec | Baroda v Assam | Baroda |
| 28-31 Dec | Uttar Pradesh v Orissa | Kanpur |
| 28-31 Dec | Tamil Nadu v Gujarat | Chennai |
Sixth Round:
| Dates | Between | Venue |
| 25-29 Jan | Hyderabad v Railways | Hyderabad |
| 25-28 Jan | Delhi v Bengal | Delhi |
| 25-28 Jan | Mumbai v Himachal Pradesh | Mumbai |
| 25-28 Jan | Andhra v Rajasthan | Andhra |
| 25-28 Jan | Uttar Pradesh v Baroda | Kanpur |
| 25-28 Jan | Gujarat v Punjab | Ahmedabad |
| 25-28 Jan | Assam v Tamil Nadu | Guwahati |
Seventh Round:
| Dates | Between | Venue |
| 01-04 Feb | Railways v Himachal Pradesh | Delhi |
| 01-04 Feb | Hyderabad v Delhi | Hyderabad |
| 01-04 Feb | Rajasthan v Mumbai | Rajasthan |
| 01-04 Feb | Bengal v Andhra | Kolkata |
| 01-04 Feb | Punjab v Tamil Nadu | Mohali |
| 01-04 Feb | Gujarat v Orissa | Ahmedabad |
| 01-04 Feb | Assam v Uttar Pradesh | Guwahati |
Plate Group
Mail Cricket Editor
