Veteran All-Rounder Jalaj Saxena Ends Nine-Year Stint With Kerala, Set for New Chapter

After nine seasons, all-rounder Jalaj Saxena has decided to leave Kerala. Saxena moved to Kerala before the 2016–17 season and continued to play for them until the 2024–25 season, playing in 125 games across all formats. He made his domestic debut for his native state of Madhya Pradesh in the 2005–06 season. In their most successful season in a long time, he was a member of the Ranji Trophy team that placed second to Vidarbha.

Due to an abundance of talent, Saxena, who has been competing on the Indian domestic circuit for 20 years, is regarded as one of those gifted players who have never made an impression on the Indian squad. On Tuesday, September 9, the seasoned cricket player announced the news on his official social media account.

Veteran All-Rounder Jalaj Saxena's New Venture:

He wrote, "It's never easy to put my feelings into words, but today I want to share something close to my heart. I have played my last game in Kerala colours, and that thought still feels surreal. Saying this brings a strange mix of emotions - gratitude, pride and a little ache. Over the years, this team has given me more than just cricket. It gave me brothers, friends and a family that stood by me through every high and low. I've given blood, sweat, and tears - everything I had - for this journey, and in return, it gave me memories and bonds that will last a lifetime."

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A post shared by Jalaj Saxena (@jalajsaxena51)

For Kerala, the standout all-round player scored 3153 runs and claimed 352 wickets in all forms. Saxena captured 269 wickets at an average of 20.68, including 23 five-fors, and scored 2252 runs, including three hundreds, in 58 first-class matches. Saxena became the first player in the history of the Ranji Trophy to record both 6,000 runs and 400 wickets during the 2024–25 season, when Kerala lost to Vidarbha in the final.

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