He has been named India’s best all-rounder for three consecutive seasons, he holds the record for bowling the second best match figures in Ranji history, he is the only Indian to score a century and take eight wickets in the same innings twice, he is the guy who has been overlooked by the national selectors for the past eleven years, he is Madhya Pradesh’s Jalaj Saxena. He’s 32 now, and he’s still as excited as he was when he was 16 to put on the blue jersey and walk out on the green turf to represent his country. He hasn’t been called up to the national team, but he feels that being chosen for the IPL is a step closer to his ambitions.Pravin Tambe made his IPL debut at the age of 41, and was soon back playing for his Ranji side. Jalaj Saxena made his IPL debut a few seasons ago, but he is yet to get a chance to show off his abilities. This season, he has a great chance to make the rest of the world envious of his match-winning skills.
Records
Jalaj Saxena is the only Indian cricketer to score a century and take eight wickets in the same innings on two occasions.
Jalaj Saxena’s 16-154 bowling figures are the second highest in Ranji Trophy history.
Career
Jalaj Saxena’s career has seen a lot, but he hasn’t had the proper acknowledgment. However, it was Jalaj Saxena’s win of the BCCI’s Best All-Rounder Award during the 2013-14 Ranji Season that turned a few heads.
Awards and recognitions
In January 2016, the BCCI presented Jalaj Saxena with the Lala Amarnath Award for best all-rounder in the world.
Lesser Known Facts
From the 2016-17 season, Jalaj Saxena moved his Ranji team from Madhya Pradesh to Karnataka and has been putting in incredible performances for the South Indian side.
Jatin Saxena, Jalaj’s brother, is also a cricketer who represents Chattisgarh in the Ranji Trophy.