High voltage start to Ranji Super League likely

The Ranji Trophy Super League championship promises to have its quota of keen contests. The 15 qualifiers from the five zones have been placed in three groups. And all the groups have both heavyweights and lightweights. But as it has been observed during the last couple of years, nothing in the Super League can be taken for granted and the results have not been devoid of surprises.

Group A comprises Mumbai (West 1), Rajasthan (Central 1), Delhi (North 2), Bengal (East 3) and Karnataka (South 3); Group B has Punjab (North 1), Baroda (West 2), Hyderabad (South 2), Bihar (East 2) and Railways (Central 3); Group C comprises Orissa (East 1), Tamil Nadu (South 1), Uttar Pradesh (Central 2), Haryana (North 3) and Saurashtra (West 3).

The opening day's fixtures itself sees a potentially high voltage clash between title holders Karnataka and oft crowned champions Mumbai at Bangalore. Karnataka will play three of its four matches at home. They play Bengal at Calcutta.

February 5 to 8: Group A: Karnataka vs Mumbai (Bangalore), Rajasthan vs Delhi (New Delhi), Group B: Baroda vs Bihar (Baroda), Punjab vs Hyderabad (Punjab), Group C: UP vs Haryana (Haryana), Saurashtra vs Tamil Nadu (Rajkot).

February 14 to 17: Group A: Delhi vs Bengal (Calcutta), Rajasthan vs Karnataka (Bangalore), Group B: Baroda vs Railways (Railways), Bihar vs Hyderabad (Hyderabad). Group C: Saurashtra vs Haryana (Haryana), Orissa vs UP (Kanpur).

February 23 to 26: Group A: Mumbai vs Delhi (New Delhi), Bengal vs Rajasthan (Calcutta), Group B: Baroda vs Punjab (Punjab), Bihar vs Railways (Jamshedpur), Group C: Tamil Nadu vs Haryana (Haryana), Saurashtra vs Orissa (Rajkot).

March 4 to 7: Group A: Karnataka vs Bengal (Calcutta), Mumbai vs Rajasthan (Mumbai), Group B: Bihar vs Punjab (Punjab), Railways vs Hyderabad (Railways), Group C: Saurashtra vs UP (Rajkot), Tamil Nadu vs Orissa (Cuttack).

March 13 to 16: Group A: Karnataka vs Delhi (Bangalore), Bengal vs Mumbai (Calcutta), Group B: Baroda vs Hyderabad (Hyderabad), Railways vs Punjab (Railways), Group C: Orissa vs Haryana (Cuttack), Tamil Nadu vs UP (Kanpur).