Matches were played from 28 October 1938 to 21 February 1939 with a total of twenty teams participating.

The sides were divided into four zonal groups, but the tournament utilised a knockout format.

Bengal won their first title defeating Southern Punjab in the final.

Although the tournament ran in a knockout format, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) organised the teams by zone.

The twenty teams are listed alphabetically by zone and the sides that won each zonal title are in bold.