Punjab dominated Elite Group C of the 2025/26 Vijay Hazare Trophy, finishing with the group’s best Net Run Rate of +1.377 after six wins in seven matches. Meanwhile, Sikkim’s winless campaign sealed their automatic relegation to the Plate division, where Bihar claimed promotion with a perfect five-win record.

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Elite Group C Leader: Punjab (24 pts, +1.377 NRR) · Matches Played (Punjab): 7 · Group C 2nd: Mumbai (20 pts, +0.964 NRR) · Elite Top Team: Karnataka (Qualified) · Plate Winner: Bihar

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
2What’s unclear
  • Exact knockout-stage matchups and dates have not been officially confirmed yet
  • Post-18 January 2026 live updates pending BCCI announcement
  • Player-level performance data for Group C not fully aggregated across all sources
3Timeline signal
  • League stage ran December 24, 2025 – January 18, 2026 (Wikipedia cricket encyclopedia)
  • Chhattisgarh’s decisive 229-run win over Sikkim shaped mid-table order (Wikipedia cricket encyclopedia)
  • Official points tables published as of January 8 on the tournament’s official site (Wikipedia cricket encyclopedia)
4What’s next
  • Punjab and Mumbai advance to knockout stages from Group C
  • Sikkim drops to Plate division for the next edition
  • Bihar, as Plate champions, earns the promotion slot to Elite

The Group C standings reflect how decisively teams separated themselves through both results and run-rate efficiency.

Team Matches Wins Losses Points NRR Standing
Punjab 7 6 1 24 +1.377 1st
Mumbai 7 5 2 20 +0.964 2nd
Maharashtra 7 4 3 16 +1.195 3rd
Chhattisgarh 7 4 3 16 +0.112 4th
Himachal Pradesh 7 3 4 12 +0.239 5th
Goa 7 3 4 12 -0.127 6th
Uttarakhand 7 3 4 12 -0.699 7th
Sikkim 7 0 7 0 -3.390 8th

Vijay Hazare Trophy 2026

The 2025/26 Vijay Hazare Trophy was the 33rd edition of India’s premier domestic one-day tournament, run by the BCCI. Thirty-eight Ranji Trophy teams competed in four Elite groups of eight plus one Plate group of six, with the league stage opening on December 24, 2025, and concluding on January 18, 2026 (Wikipedia cricket encyclopedia). The structure splits teams into two competition tiers: Elite groups where the top performers earn knockout qualification, and a Plate division where the winner gets promoted for the next season.

Elite Groups

Four Elite groups ran simultaneously, with each group producing its own points table before cross-group knockout stages. Group C was among the most competitive, featuring seven teams that each completed a full seven-match schedule with no no-results or ties (Sports Tak cricket portal).

The upshot

Elite groups feature the strongest domestic sides in India. Earning a top-two finish here means direct entry to the quarterfinals, while finishing at the bottom triggers relegation to Plate division for the following season.

Plate Division

The Plate Group ran in parallel with the Elite schedule, giving second-tier teams a chance to compete for promotion. Bihar dominated this division completely, winning all five of their matches with a remarkable NRR of +3.067 to claim the title and secure their place in Elite for the next edition (Wikipedia cricket encyclopedia).

The promotion-relegation mechanism creates genuine stakes beyond just winning matches. Sikkim’s performance in this season—zero wins across seven games with an NRR of -3.390—means they now drop back to the Plate group, while Bihar makes the opposite journey.

Vijay Hazare Trophy final

As of January 18, the league stage had concluded, but the exact knockout bracket and final date had not been formally announced by the BCCI. The defending champions entering this edition were Karnataka, who topped Elite Group A with 24 points and an NRR of +0.544 (Wikipedia cricket encyclopedia).

Current Top Contenders

From Group C alone, Punjab and Mumbai both advance to the knockout rounds as first and second place finishers. Punjab’s superior NRR of +1.377 reflects their dominance: they scored 1,602 runs in 269.4 overs while their opponents managed only 1,541 runs in 337.4 overs (ESPNcricinfo live standings). Across the other Elite groups, Uttar Pradesh led Group B with an unbeaten record and 28 points (NRR +1.737), while Delhi topped Group D with 24 points and the group’s highest NRR of +1.809.

Why this matters

Group D’s Delhi posted a higher NRR than Punjab despite both finishing with 24 points—but different group contexts make direct comparisons imperfect. What the numbers confirm is that Punjab was the most dominant team in Group C, not just the highest-placed.

Qualification Path

The top two teams from each Elite group advance to the knockout stage. When teams tie on points—which happened three times in Group C alone—NRR becomes the tiebreaker. Maharashtra finished third ahead of Chhattisgarh on NRR (+1.195 vs +0.112) despite both having 16 points, and the 5th-7th cluster (Himachal Pradesh, Goa, Uttarakhand) were separated entirely by run-rate differentials.

The catch

NRR isn’t just a bonus metric—it’s a primary ranking tool. In Group B, Vidarbha finished ahead of Baroda (both 20 points) solely on NRR (+1.264 vs +0.712). Teams that win big and defend well consistently outperform those winning by narrow margins, even with identical win-loss records.

Vijay Hazare Trophy 2026 schedule

The league stage ran from December 24, 2025 through January 18, 2026, with official points tables published on the tournament’s website as of January 8 (Vijay Hazare Trophy Official Site). Live score updates and match schedules were available through ESPNcricinfo and Cricbuzz throughout the campaign.

Key Matches

Several Group C results had direct implications for the final standings. Chhattisgarh’s 229-run win over Sikkim (355/3 declared against 126 all out) at Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Jaipur, demonstrated the gulf between mid-table and bottom-placed teams. A tighter contest saw Chhattisgarh beat Maharashtra by just 6 runs (166 vs 160/8) at Anantam Ground, Jaipur—a result that ultimately determined the 3rd vs 4th finish on NRR.

Upcoming Fixtures

The knockout stage fixtures had not been formally confirmed at the time of league-stage conclusion. Fans can track updates through BCCI’s official coverage platform (BCCI.tv official broadcast) and ESPNcricinfo’s live standings.

Vijay Hazare Trophy Elite

The Elite division features India’s most competitive domestic sides. Here’s how the four groups stacked up at league-stage end:

The cross-group comparison reveals how Punjab’s dominance in Group C compared with other Elite leaders.

Group Leader Points NRR Runner-up Points NRR
Elite A Karnataka 24 +0.544 MP 20 —
Elite B Uttar Pradesh 28 +1.737 Vidarbha 20 +1.264
Elite C Punjab 24 +1.377 Mumbai 20 +0.964
Elite D Delhi 24 +1.809 Saurashtra 20 —

The implication: Uttar Pradesh’s unbeaten run in Group B sets them apart as the only team with a perfect record, while Delhi’s +1.809 NRR in Group D outpaced even Punjab’s impressive Group C figure.

Points Table Leaders

Uttar Pradesh stood out as the only undefeated team across all Elite groups, finishing Group B with a perfect record and the highest NRR of any group winner (+1.737). They led a tight group where Vidarbha and Baroda both finished on 20 points—Vidarbha advancing on superior NRR. Uttar Pradesh stood out as the only undefeated team across all Elite groups, finishing Group B with a perfect record and the highest NRR of any group winner (+1.737), and you can see the full Comeon live casino Norge for more details.

Qualified Teams

Eight teams have qualified for the knockout stage: Karnataka and MP from Group A, Uttar Pradesh and Vidarbha from Group B, Punjab and Mumbai from Group C, and Delhi and Saurashtra from Group D. Karnataka, as defending champions, carried extra expectations into the campaign.

What to watch

With Uttar Pradesh’s unbeaten run and Punjab’s dominant NRR, the knockout brackets may produce high-scoring encounters. Teams that rely on close wins rather than blowouts will need to adjust their approach significantly in the elimination rounds.

Vijay Hazare Trophy stats

Beyond the points table, several statistics define how teams performed across the 2025/26 season.

Net Run Rate Leaders

NRR leaders across Elite groups were: Uttar Pradesh (+1.737, Group B), Delhi (+1.809, Group D), and Punjab (+1.377, Group C). Within Group C, the NRR spread was dramatic—Punjab’s +1.377 at the top versus Sikkim’s -3.390 at the bottom represented a nearly 4.7-run-per-over gap in run efficiency.

Wins and Losses

No Elite group featured an undefeated team except Uttar Pradesh in Group B. Every other group had multiple teams with 2+ losses, creating the tight point clusters that made NRR so consequential. All eight teams in Group C finished with 7 matches played—no no-results or abandoned games affected the standings (Sports Tak cricket portal).

Bottom line: Punjab’s six-win campaign and +1.377 NRR demonstrated consistent all-round excellence that should serve them well in the knockout rounds. Sikkim’s complete collapse—zero wins and a -3.390 NRR—means they face relegation and must rebuild in the Plate division. The three NRR tiebreakers in Group C alone underscore how margin of victory directly determines advancement or elimination.

Clarity on confirmed and uncertain facts

Confirmed facts

  • Punjab topped Elite Group C with 24 points, 6 wins, NRR +1.377
  • Mumbai finished 2nd in Group C with 20 points, 5 wins, NRR +0.964
  • Sikkim finished 8th (last) in Group C with 0 wins, NRR -3.390
  • Bihar won the Plate Group with 5 wins from 5, NRR +3.067
  • League stage ran December 24, 2025 – January 18, 2026
  • Top 2 from each Elite group advance to knockouts

What’s unclear

  • Exact knockout-stage matchups and dates
  • Post-league live score updates beyond January 18
  • Cross-group knockout bracket draw details
  • Player-level individual performance statistics

Quotes from the season

The 2025–26 Vijay Hazare Trophy was the 33rd edition of India’s domestic List A tournament, taking place from 24 January 2026 to 18 January 2026.

— Wikipedia contributors, Wikipedia cricket encyclopedia

Sikkim finished with a 0-7 record and NRR of -3.390, facing relegation to the Plate Group for the next season.

— Tournament records analysis, Wikipedia cricket encyclopedia

The trade-off

For teams like Sikkim, the Plate division offers a lower-pressure environment to rebuild confidence and accumulate wins. For promoted teams like Bihar, the jump back to Elite means facing sides like Punjab and Mumbai—stiffer competition that tests whether their domestic form translates to the next level.

The Vijay Hazare Trophy standings reflect more than just win-loss records. Punjab’s campaign showed what consistent all-round performance looks like—six wins with a run rate advantage of nearly 1.4 runs per over against average opposition strength. The NRR tiebreakers scattered throughout Group C underscore how margin of victory matters every bit as much as the result itself. For teams heading into knockouts, the lesson is straightforward: win big, defend hard, or watch a superior NRR send someone else through instead.

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Frequently asked questions

What factors determine Vijay Hazare Trophy standings?

Standings are determined first by total points (2 for a win, 1 for a tie or no-result, 0 for a loss). When teams are tied on points, Net Run Rate (NRR) becomes the primary tiebreaker, calculated as runs scored per over minus runs conceded per over. This system rewards teams that win decisively rather than by narrow margins.

How is Net Run Rate calculated in Vijay Hazare Trophy?

NRR equals a team’s total runs scored divided by total overs batted, minus the same calculation for runs conceded against the opposition. A higher NRR indicates a team that both scores quickly and limits opponents effectively. For example, Punjab’s NRR of +1.377 means they scored 1,602 runs in 269.4 overs while opponents scored 1,541 runs in 337.4 overs against them.

Which teams have qualified from Elite groups?

Eight teams qualified for knockouts: Karnataka and Madhya Pradesh (Group A), Uttar Pradesh and Vidarbha (Group B), Punjab and Mumbai (Group C), and Delhi and Saurashtra (Group D). Each group produced a clear top two after league-stage points and NRR were applied.

Where can I find Vijay Hazare Trophy live scores?

Official live score updates and the complete points table are available through ESPNcricinfo, Cricbuzz, and the BCCI’s official platform at bcci.tv. The tournament’s dedicated website (vijayhazaretrophy.com.in) publishes official standings, last updated during the league phase on January 8, 2026.

What is the difference between Elite and Plate divisions?

The Elite division features the strongest 32 domestic teams in four groups, competing for the tournament title. The Plate division is a second-tier competition for teams that have been relegated or are newly competitive. The Plate winner earns promotion to Elite for the next season, while the bottom Elite team each group faces relegation to Plate.

Who are the top run-scorers in Vijay Hazare Trophy 2025/26?

Individual batting statistics for the 2025/26 season were not fully compiled across all sources at the time of league-stage conclusion. ESPNcricinfo maintains detailed player records for each match, and Cricbuzz provides match-specific performance data that can be filtered by tournament and team.