中央邦

Holkar cricket team

A Central India team competed in the Ranji Trophy between 1934–35 and 1939–40, playing 12 matches. In 1941, Holkar entered the competition, organised and managed by King Yashwantrao Holkar II belonging to the Holkar dynasty of the Marathas. In the fourteen years of its existence Holkar, which included such players as C. K. Nayudu and Mushtaq Ali, won the title four times and finished second on six other occasions. Another Ranji Trophy team later to be absorbed by Madhya Pradesh was Gwalior (one match in 1943–44).

Madhya Pradesh team

Madhya Pradesh began competing as a team from 1950 to 1951. Holkar appeared in the Ranji Trophy till 1954-55 after which it was dissolved and replaced by a Madhya Bharat team. This became part of the Madhya Pradesh team after two years as the states were reorganised.

Madhya Pradesh's first title was the 1998-99 Wills Trophy, where they defeated Bengal in the final. Madhya Pradesh team reached the final of the Ranji Trophy for the first time in the same season. They took the first innings lead against Karnataka and needed only a draw to win the title but collapsed in the final session of the last day to lose with five overs to spare.

Finally in the 2021–22 season, Madhya Pradesh defeated the 41-time Champions Mumbai in the final in Bengaluru to win the Ranji Trophy for the fifth time and first time as Madhya Pradesh.