Ranji Trophy 1985–86

The 1985–86 Ranji Trophy marked the 52nd season of India's premier first-class cricket competition. Participation grew to 27 teams as Goa, Himachal Pradesh, and Tripura joined the fray for the first time. The tournament operated through a combination of league and knockout phases to determine the eventual winner.

Delhi claimed the title by dominating the final against Haryana. They secured a massive victory by an innings and 141 runs after Haryana chose to bat first upon winning the toss. This win represented the fourth time Delhi captured the Ranji Trophy championship.

Individual performances stood out throughout the season. Kirti Azad from Delhi led all scorers by accumulating 834 runs, while Haryana bowler Sarkar Talwar topped the wicket-taking charts with 45 dismissals.

A standout bowling feat occurred when Pradeep Sunderam of Rajasthan took all 10 wickets in a single innings against Vidarbha. He finished with figures of 10 for 78 in that innings and claimed 16 wickets for 154 runs in the match, marking the second time in the history of the tournament that a bowler achieved a ten-wicket haul in an innings.