The 1955–56 Ranji Trophy was the twenty‑second edition of the Ranji Trophy, the premier domestic first‑class cricket championship in India administered by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). The tournament was contested during the 1955‑56 Indian cricket season, with matches played between October 1955 and March 1956.
Format
The competition followed a knockout structure divided into geographic zones (North, West, East, South, and Central). Teams that won their zonal matches progressed to inter‑zonal knockout rounds, culminating in a final to decide the champion. Matches were scheduled for three days and were accorded first‑class status.
Participants
A total of 22 regional and state teams entered the tournament. The exact list of participants for this season includes traditional sides such as Bombay, Bengal, Hyderabad, Madras, Mysore, Punjab, Services, and others representing Indian states and government institutions.
Champions
Bombay captured the title, retaining the championship they had won in the preceding season. This victory contributed to Bombay’s early dominance in the Ranji Trophy, during which the side amassed numerous consecutive titles.
Final
The final was contested between Bombay and an as‑yet‑unverified opponent; detailed records of the runner‑up and the match outcome (including scores and venue) are not definitively established in the available encyclopedic sources.
Statistical Highlights
Most runs: Specific data on the leading run‑scorer for the 1955–56 season is not conclusively documented in reliable references.
Most wickets: Likewise, definitive information regarding the leading wicket‑taker for this edition is unavailable.
Historical Context
The 1955–56 season continued the post‑independence expansion of the Ranji Trophy, which increasingly featured a broader array of state and institutional teams. Bombay’s success during this period laid the groundwork for the side’s record‑setting dominance in Indian domestic cricket, a trend that would persist into the later decades of the 20th century.
References
- Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) archival records.
- Contemporary newspaper reports from the 1955‑56 Indian cricket season.
Note: Certain specifics of the 1955–56 Ranji Trophy, such as the exact runner‑up, match scores, and individual statistical leaders, remain insufficiently documented in widely accessible encyclopedic resources.
