The Ranji Trophy is a premier domestic first-class cricket championship played in India and organized annually by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). The teams representing regional and state cricket associations participate. BCCI founded the championship in 1934, Since then it has been organised across various grounds and stadiums in India.

Anthony Stanislaus de Mello was an Indian cricket administrator and one of the founders of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). He also helped launch the Asian Games as the chairman of the organising committee for the first Asian Games in Delhi.