Zonal battlegrounds

Thirty-one districts enter three zonal events. Each zone qualifies four teams for the November Gandaberunda Trophy: the knockout winner, runner-up, third-place match winner, and one fan favourite chosen from the five other quarter-finalists.

Bracket play crowns the two finalists and decides the third-place match. Those match outcomes—not league rank alone—produce the three direct state berths.

Eight teams make the quarter-finals. Remove the three direct qualifiers; exactly five teams remain in the pool.

Fans vote once across that pool of five. The top vote-getter becomes the fourth qualifier from the zone.

Together with the three knockout qualifiers, this completes four teams per zone.

Four qualifiers × three zones = twelve teams at the statewide championship.