Jalaj has been a key member of the Kerala Ranji side since 2016.
| Photo Credit: FILE PHOTO : NIRMAL HARINDRAN
Last year’s runner-up Kerala has been dealt a heavy blow ahead of the Ranji Trophy season with its biggest match-winner Jalaj Saxena informing the Kerala Cricket Association (KCA) about his unavailability.
Jalaj cited personal reasons, stating he could not spend long periods away from family and wanted to be near his aged parents.
“Jalaj told us that he didn’t want to travel and wanted to be close to his aged parents. He was thinking of taking a break and won’t be available for the Ranji Trophy this season. We don’t know if he has any plans of joining other teams as till now he hasn’t approached us for NOC,” said KCA Secretary Vinod S. Kumar.
Jalaj is currently playing for Alleppey Ripples in the Kerala Cricket League (KCL).
He has been a key member of the Kerala Ranji side since the 2016 season. He has scored 2,252 runs, including three centuries and 11 fifties, and has taken 269 wickets with 23 five-wicket hauls, from 58 matches for Kerala. Jalaj was instrumental in Kerala reaching the final for the first time ever last season.
All-rounder Aditya Sarwate, who played last season as a professional, has taken NOC from KCA and will be representing Chhattisgarh this season.
Published – August 28, 2025 07:23 pm IST