There were a number of 5 teams played against each other under the West Zone in the Ranji Trophy, 1985-86 and all the teams were the regular participants in the tournament. Most of the teams were representing different states from the Western region of India and they included the likes of Maharashtra, Saurashtra, Baroda, Gujarat and Bombay. All the teams gave their best efforts for claiming the top spot in the zone and securing a birth in the knock out level of the tournament was also another principal aim of the teams. The teams like Maharashtra and Bombay eventually became successful to achieve this aim, as they became the toppers in the zone. The Maharashtra team earned 69 points and Bombay earned 56 points, at the end of the zonal level league matches.
The West Zone league matches in the Ranji Trophy, 1985-86 started with the match between the teams of Maharashtra and Baroda and the two teams played the match at Pune from 23-25 November, 1985. The match remained drawn during the stipulated duration and the match officials awarded the Maharashtra and Baroda teams 10 and 7 points, respectively for the match. The second match of the zone involved the teams like Gujarat and Bombay and the match as held at Surat from 23-25 November, 1985. The Bombay team played wonderfully in the match and clinched a victory of 9 wickets and also earned 28 points from it. The Gujarat team earned 4 points from the match, as well. There was a clash between the teams of Baroda and Gujarat in the third match of the zone and the match took place at Baroda from 21-23 December, 1985. The match remained drawn during the specified period of time and the match officials awarded the Gujarat and Baroda teams 13 and 8 points, respectively for the match.
The fourth of the West Zone league matches in the Ranji Trophy, 1985-86 involved the teams like Bombay and Saurashtra and the match was organised at Bombay and 21-23 December, 1985. The drawn match saw the Saurashtra and Bombay teams earning 10 and 7 points, respectively from it. The Bombay team appeared in the next match of the zone also and this time, it played against the Baroda team at Baroda from 28-30 December, 1985. The match also remained drawn during the stipulated duration and the Bombay and Baroda teams earned 12 and 5 points, respectively from the match. The next match of the zone saw a huge clash between the teams of Maharashtra and Saurashtra and the two teams played the match at Pune from 28-30 December, 1985. The Maharashtra team played very well in the match and earned 25 points, by clinching a victory of 7 wickets and the Saurashtra team also earned 5 points from the match.
The clash between the teams of Bombay and Maharashtra took place in the next match and the match was held at Bombay from 04-06 January, 1986. The Bombay and Maharashtra teams earned 9 and 8 points, respectively from the match, as it remained drawn during the stipulated duration. The next match of the zone was played between the teams of Saurashtra and Gujarat and the teams played the match at Rajkot from 04-06 January, 1986. The drawn match saw the Saurashtra team earning 12 points and Gujarat earning 10 points from it. The Gujarat team appeared in the next match of the zone also and this time, it played against the Maharashtra team at Bulsar from 18-20 January, 1986. The winner of the match was the Maharashtra team with a very good margin of 9 wickets and the team also earned 26 points from the match. The Gujarat team also earned 5 points from the match. The last of the West Zone league matches in the Ranji Trophy, 1985-86 saw a clash between the teams of Saurashtra and Baroda and the match was held at Gandhidham from 18-20 January, 1986. The match officials awarded the Saurashtra and Baroda teams 7 and 5 points, respectively for the drawn match.