Last year’s runner-up Kerala has suffered a major setback ahead of the Ranji Trophy season, with Jalaj Saxena informing the State association of his unavailability.
The veteran all-rounder cited personal reasons, saying he could not spend extended periods away from his family and wished to remain close to his aged parents.
“Jalaj said he wanted to take a break from cricket and won’t be available for Ranji Trophy this season. He told us that he didn’t want to travel and wanted to be close to his aged parents. We don’t know if he has any plans of joining other teams, as till now he hasn’t approached us for NOC,’‘ said Vinod S Kumar, the KCA secretary.
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Jalaj is currently turning out for Alleppey Ripples in the Kerala Cricket League. Since joining Kerala in 2016, he has scored 2,215 runs with three centuries and 10 fifties, and taken 269 wickets, including 21 five-wicket hauls, in 59 matches. Jalaj was instrumental in Kerala reaching the Ranji Trophy final for the first time last season.
Meanwhile, all-rounder Aditya Sarwate, who featured as a professional for Kerala last season, has obtained an NOC from KCA to represent Chhattisgarh this year.
Published on Aug 27, 2025
