Last year's losing finalists, Saurashtra, will open their bid in Group B against two-time champions Rajasthan at home in Rajkot on the same dates as per the Ranji programme uploaded by the Cricket Board on its website.
The season opens with the three-team NKP Salve Challenger Trophy to be played at an yet to be decided venue between September 26 and 29, to be followed by the Duleep Trophy in South Zone between October 3 and 17.
Group A comprises Mumbai, Punjab, Gujarat, Delhi, Karnataka, Haryana, Orissa, Vidarbha and Jharkhand.
Group B has Saurashtra, Services, Uttar Pradesh, Railways, Baroda, Madhya Pradesh, Bengal, Tamil Nadu and Rajasthan.
Hyderabad, Maharashtra, Andhra, Assam, Kerala, Goa, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Tripura have been pooled together in Group C.
