Jalaj Saxena Carves History in the Ranji Trophy: 6,000 Runs and 400 Wickets

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM:
Kerala cricketer Jalaj Saxena has achieved a historic milestone in the Ranji Trophy. He is now the first player to score 6,000 runs and take 400 wickets solely in the Ranji Trophy.

Jalaj Saxena reached the historic milestone of 400 wickets in the Ranji Trophy by taking five wickets in the match against Uttar Pradesh that was held at St. Xavier’s Ground in Thumba. He achieved this feat by dismissing Uttar Pradesh’s Nitish Rana.

Saxena took five wickets, conceding 56 runs in 16 overs. He won this rare achievement from 120 matches. In the Ranji Trophy alone, Jalaj has scored 13 centuries and 30 half-centuries. Additionally, Saxena has claimed five-wicket hauls 29 times.

Saxena had also delivered an impressive performance in the previous match against Bengal. The partnership of 140 runs between Jalaj Saxena and Salman Nizar helped Kerala secure a draw in a match they seemed set to lose. Jalaj’s career began in Madhya Pradesh cricket in 2005.

Jalaj joined the Kerala team in the 2016-17 Ranji season. As Kerala’s second-highest wicket-taker, in the last year, Saxena joined the elite club of Indian cricketers with over 9,000 runs and 600 wickets across domestic formats. Saxena is the 13th bowler in Ranji Trophy history to achieve 400 wickets.