Which team won the Ranji Trophy cricket championship in the 2016–17 season?

Introduction / Context:
The Ranji Trophy is the premier first class cricket championship in India, and questions about its winners are common in exams that test sports awareness. Traditionally, teams like Mumbai and Karnataka have dominated the tournament, but in recent years other state teams have risen to the top. The 2016–17 season was particularly notable because a team that was not traditionally seen as a powerhouse clinched the title for the first time. This question asks you to identify that champion team from the provided options.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The competition is the Ranji Trophy, India main first class cricket tournament.
• The season in question is 2016–17.
• The options are Mumbai, Gujarat, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu.
• We assume final tournament results as recorded by the domestic cricket board.

Concept / Approach:
The concept is factual recall of domestic cricket champions. While Mumbai and Karnataka have historically won many Ranji titles, the 2016–17 season is remembered for Gujarat breakthrough. Gujarat defeated more established teams and went on to win the Ranji Trophy for the first time in their history. Tamil Nadu has also been competitive but did not win this particular season. The correct approach is to connect the phrase 2016–17 Ranji Trophy champions with Gujarat, as highlighted in sports news and exam material focusing on Indian domestic cricket.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall which team surprised many observers by winning the Ranji Trophy for the first time in the mid 2010s. Step 2: Remember that Gujarat emerged as champions in the 2016–17 Ranji season. Step 3: Consider Mumbai and Karnataka, both of which have long histories of success but did not win the title that particular season. Step 4: Note that Tamil Nadu was not the champion in 2016–17 either. Step 5: Choose Gujarat as the correct answer.

Verification / Alternative check:
For verification, think of match reports and headlines from that season. They highlighted Gujarat first ever Ranji Trophy triumph and celebrated the team for breaking the traditional dominance of other states. Mumbai and Karnataka were mentioned as former champions or strong opponents but not as the winners. Tamil Nadu did not claim the title that year. Revisiting such summaries or having a year wise list of Ranji winners in mind helps confirm that Gujarat indeed won the 2016–17 Ranji Trophy.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Mumbai: Although Mumbai has the highest number of Ranji titles overall, it did not win the championship in the 2016–17 season in question.

Karnataka: Another historically strong side that has won multiple titles, but not the champion for the specified 2016–17 season.

Tamil Nadu: A competitive domestic team, but it did not win the Ranji Trophy in 2016–17 and therefore cannot be the correct answer here.

Common Pitfalls:
Candidates sometimes default to picking Mumbai or Karnataka whenever a Ranji Trophy question appears, simply because these teams have so many titles. This habit can lead to errors when the question is about a more recent season where a different state broke through. To avoid this, it is helpful to memorise at least the last few years of Ranji winners and specifically remember that Gujarat claimed their historic first title in 2016–17. This will allow you to answer such questions with confidence.

Final Answer:
The team that won the Ranji Trophy cricket championship in the 2016–17 season was Gujarat, so option B is correct.