Vijay Hazare Trophy: A Premier Domestic Cricket Competition in India
The Vijay Hazare Trophy, previously known as the Ranji Trophy One-Day competition, is a prestigious domestic cricket tournament held annually in India. Named after the legendary Indian cricketer Vijay Hazare, this competition brings together some of the best state-level teams from across the country to battle it out for the coveted trophy.
History and Evolution
The Vijay Hazare Trophy has its roots in the Ranji Trophy One-Day competition, which was introduced in 2002-03. The tournament was renamed in 2010-11 to honor the memory of Vijay Hazare, who passed away in 2004. Since its inception, the competition has seen numerous changes in format and structure, but its core objective remains the same – to provide a platform for state-level teams to compete against each other.
| Year |
Winner |
| 2002-03 |
Bengal |
| 2010-11 |
Rajasthan |
| 2020-21 |
Mumbai |
Key Features and Format
The Vijay Hazare Trophy is played in a league-cum-knockout format, where teams are divided into groups based on their past performances. The top two teams from each group qualify for the knockout stage, which includes the quarterfinals, semifinals, and finals. Each match is played with 50 overs per team, making it a thrilling competition that showcases the skills of domestic cricketers.
- Group Stage: Teams are divided into groups, with the top two teams from each group qualifying for the knockout stage.
- Knockout Stage: Quarterfinals, semifinals, and finals are played in a knock-out format, with the winner advancing to the next round.
- 50-Overs-a-Side Matches: Each match is played with 50 overs per team, making it an exciting competition that showcases the skills of domestic cricketers.
Notable Winners and Runners-Up
The Vijay Hazare Trophy has seen some remarkable performances over the years. Some notable winners include Bengal, Rajasthan, Mumbai, and Karnataka, who have dominated the competition in recent times.
Bengal's Dominance: Bengal has been one of the most successful teams in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, winning the
