Six teams played against each other under the South Zone in the Ranji Trophy, 1987-88 and all the teams were representing various states from the Southern region of India. The teams were also the regular participants in the tournament and they included the likes of Goa, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra, Hyderabad and Karnataka. The teams fought with each other very hard for becoming one of the top two teams in the zone and they also gave their best efforts for getting a chance into the knock out level of the tournament. The teams like Tamil Nadu and Karnataka eventually became successful to enter into the knock out level of the tournament, as they became the leaders in the zone with total of 79 and 75 points, respectively.

The South Zone league matches in the Ranji Trophy, 1987-88 started with the match between the teams of Goa and Hyderabad and the two teams played the match at Margao from 08-10 November, 1987. The match remained drawn during the stipulated duration and the match officials awarded the Hyderabad and Goa teams 13 and 11 points, respectively for the match. The Goa team played in the second match of the zone also and this time, its opponent was the Kerala team. The match was held at Panaji from 12-14 November, 1987 and the drawn match saw the Kerala and Goa teams earning 12 and 7 points from it. The teams of Karnataka and Goa clashed with each other in the third match of the zone and the match took place at Gulbarga from 22-24 November, 1987. The Karnataka team earned 22 points from the match, by clinching a victory of an innings and 47 runs and the Goa team also earned 3 points from the match.

The fourth of the South Zone league matches in the Ranji Trophy, 1987-88 was played between the teams of Hyderabad and Andhra and the two teams played the match at Secunderabad from 05-07 December, 1987. The Hyderabad and Andhra teams earned 14 and 9 points, respectively from the match, as it remained drawn during the specified period of time. The next match of the zone involved the teams like Karnataka and Kerala and the match was held at Raichur from 05-07 December, 1987. The drawn match saw the Karnataka team earning 15 points and Kerala earning 11 points from it. The Kerala team appeared in the next match of the zone also and this time, it played against the Tamil Nadu team at Salem from 12-14 December, 1987. The winner of the match was the Tamil Nadu team with a margin of 7 wickets and earned 17 points from it. The Kerala team earned 6 points from the match, as well.

The match between the teams of Andhra and Goa teams was also held during the same timing from 12-14 December, 1987 and the teams played the match at Vishakhapatnam. The match remained drawn during the specified period of time and the match officials awarded the Andhra and Goa teams 17 and 11 points, respectively for the match. The eighth of the South Zone league matches in the Ranji Trophy, 1987-88 was played between the teams of Hyderabad and Karnataka and the match was held at Secunderabad from 12-14 December, 1987. The Hyderabad and Karnataka teams earned 15 and 3 points, respectively from the match, as it remained drawn during the stipulated duration. The Andhra team then played against the Tamil Nadu team in the next match of the zone and the match took place at Guntur from 19-21 December, 1987. Playing very well in the match, the Tamil Nadu team clinched a victory of an innings and 82 runs for earning 23 points and the Andhra team also earned 3 points from the match.

The Tamil Nadu team appeared in the tenth of the South Zone league matches in the Ranji Trophy, 1987-88 and this time, it played against the Goa team at Erode from 27-29 December, 1987. The winner of the match was the Tamil Nadu team with a huge margin of an innings and 91 runs and the team also earned 23 points from the match. The Goa team`s earnings from the match were 2 points. The Kerala team then played against the Andhra team in the next match of the zone and the match was held at Kottayam from 02-04 January, 1988. The drawn match saw the Andhra team earning 13 points and Kerala earning 7 points from it. The next match of the zone saw a clash between the teams of Tamil Nadu and Hyderabad and the two teams played the match at Madras from 02-04 January, 1988. The Hyderabad team earned 11 points and Tamil Nadu earned 7 points from the drawn match.

The Hyderabad team appeared in the next match of the South Zone also and this time, it played against the Kerala team at Kottayam from 07-09 January, 1988. The Hyderabad team played wonderfully in the match and earned 16 points by cinching a huge victory of 9 wickets and the Kerala team also earned 5 points from the match. The teams of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu clashed with each other in the next match of the zone and the match was held at Bangalore from 08-10 January, 1988. The match saw the Karnataka team winning by a margin of 67 runs for earning 19 points and the Tamil Nadu team also earned 9 points from the match. The last of the South Zone league matches in the Ranji Trophy, 1987-88 was played between the teams of Andhra and Karnataka and the two teams played the match at Kurnool from 17-19 January, 1988. The Karnataka and Andhra teams earned 16 and 11 points, respectively from the match, as it remained drawn during the specified period of time.