The stage is set for one of Indian basketball’s most prestigious domestic events as the Basketball Federation of India (BFI) officially unveiled the group-stage draw for the 75th Senior National Basketball Championship, scheduled to be held from January 4 to 11, 2026, at the iconic Jawaharlal Nehru Indoor Stadium, Chennai.
Bringing together the country’s top state and institutional teams, the landmark edition promises a week of intense competition, renewed rivalries, and a platform for emerging talent across both men’s and women’s categories.
The Senior Nationals remain the cornerstone of India’s domestic basketball calendar, and the 75th edition carries added significance not just as a celebratory milestone, but also as a critical battleground for promotion, relegation, and national team recognition.
Competition Structure: Two Levels, One Goal
The championship will once again follow a two-level competitive structure, designed to maintain balance while offering every team a clear pathway to progress.
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Level 1 features the top 10 teams, determined by performances in the previous edition. These teams are split into Groups A and B, with the national champions crowned through a league-cum-knockout format. Level 2 comprises the remaining teams, divided into multiple groups, with the top finishers earning promotion to Level 1 for the next edition, while the bottom teams from Level 1 face relegation.
This structure ensures sustained competitiveness throughout the tournament, keeping both promotion hopefuls and title contenders fully invested until the final whistle.
Recap of the 74th Edition: Champions Set the Benchmark
The 74th Senior National Championship, held in Bhavnagar, Gujarat from January 5 to 12, 2025, set a high bar. In the men’s final, Tamil Nadu produced a dominant display to defeat Punjab 80–56, building a commanding 48–26 halftime lead en route to the title. In the women’s category, Indian Railways once again underlined their supremacy, overpowering Kerala 86–53 to retain their crown.
Those results have added extra edge to the 2026 edition, with defending champions now targets and former finalists eager for redemption.
Men’s Championship: Heavyweights and High Stakes
The men’s competition is divided into eight groups, with Level 1 hosting the title contenders.
Level 1 – Group A
Defending champions Tamil Nadu headline a competitive group that includes Karnataka, Services, Rajasthan, and Gujarat a mix of tactical discipline and athletic depth.
Level 1 – Group B
Runners-up Punjab lead a formidable group featuring Indian Railways, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, and Chandigarh, making it arguably the toughest pool of the opening phase.
Level 2 groups will feature teams battling for promotion:
- Group C: Kerala, Jammu & Kashmir, Jharkhand, West Bengal
- Group D: Madhya Pradesh, Goa, Maharashtra, Uttarakhand
- Group E: Haryana, Chhattisgarh, Meghalaya, Tripura
- Group F: Himachal Pradesh, Bihar, Mizoram, Telangana
- Group G: Andaman & Nicobar, Assam, Nagaland, Sikkim
- Group H: Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Odisha, Puducherry
Key storylines include whether Tamil Nadu can replicate their clinical dominance, and whether traditional forces like Services and Indian Railways, often strengthened by institutional depth and experience, can mount a sustained title push.
Women’s Championship: Railways Face Familiar Challengers
The women’s competition mirrors the men’s structure, with seven groups in total.
Level 1 – Group A
Defending champions Indian Railways are drawn alongside Delhi, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, and Karnataka, a group that will test their depth early.
Level 1 – Group B
Finalists Kerala anchor a strong pool featuring Tamil Nadu, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, and West Bengal, setting the stage for potential early clashes between recent contenders.
Level 2 groups are as follows:
- Group C: Punjab, Goa, Haryana, Tripura, Uttarakhand
- Group D: Uttar Pradesh, Chandigarh, Jammu & Kashmir, Telangana
- Group E: Rajasthan, Bihar, Jharkhand, Sikkim
- Group F: Himachal Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Puducherry
- Group G: Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Meghalaya, Odisha
Indian Railways’ continued dominance built on defensive solidity, rebounding strength, and tactical cohesion—will once again be under scrutiny, with Kerala and Tamil Nadu widely seen as the most credible challengers.
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Hosted by the Tamil Nadu Basketball Association (TNBA) in collaboration with BFI, the championship returns to Chennai, a city with a strong basketball legacy. The Jawaharlal Nehru Indoor Stadium’s multi-court setup will allow for simultaneous fixtures, ensuring a packed schedule from January 4 through the finals on January 11.
Beyond titles and trophies, the Senior Nationals remain a vital scouting platform for national selectors, offering a direct view of India’s best domestic talent under pressure.
As the countdown begins, the 75th Senior National Basketball Championship promises not just competition, but a celebration of Indian basketball’s depth, diversity, and growing ambition.
Whether the champions defend their crowns or new contenders rise, Chennai is set to be the heartbeat of Indian basketball this January.
