The1937–38 Ranji Trophy was the fourth edition of theRanji Trophy, an annualfirst-class cricket tournament in India. Matches were played from 17 October 1937 to 24 February 1938 with a total of 18 teams participating. The sides were divided into four zonal groups, but the tournament utilised a knockout format.Hyderabad defeated the defending championsNawanagar in the final.
Although the tournament ran in a knockout format, theBoard of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) organised the teams by zone.Delhi were absent from North Zone butNorthern India returned andNorth West Frontier Province made their debut. South Zone was reduced to three teams afterCentral Provinces and Berar withdrew. West Zone had seven teams withBaroda making their debut. The eighteen teams are listed alphabetically by zone and the sides that won each zonal title are inbold.
Hyderabad qualified for the final after gettingwalkovers in the previous two rounds when their opposition failed to appear. The Ranji final was the only match they played in this season.
Hyderabad's feat of winning the Ranji Trophy after winning only one match is a rare feat: Maharashtra in1940–41, Bombay in1967–68, Hyderabad again in1986–87 and Bengal in1989–90 all won only one match outright when winning the title.
Amar Singh topped the batting and bowling aggregates for the season. He scored 370 runs and took 24 wickets in four matches.
Against Bombay in the decisive match in the West Zone, Amar Singh scored 140* and took 6/22 in the first innings, bowling Bombay out for 45. Against Baroda he scored 66 and took 6 wickets in the match, and against Sind 86 and 10 wickets for 61 (3/35 and 7/26).
Nawanagar defeated Baroda by an innings and 275 runs, Sind by an innings and 144 runs and Bombay by an innings and 130 runs before losing the final.
Edulji Aibara's (Hyderabad) 137 was the highest individual score in a successful chase in a Ranji Trophy final before it was surpassed byParthiv Patel (143) in2016–17.[4]
Hyderabad's 310 was the highest fourth innings total to win a Ranji final before it was surpassed by Gujarat's 312 in 2016–17.[5]
