Jalaj Saxena has etched his name in the annals of Ranji Trophy history by becoming the first player to achieve the remarkable double of 6000 runs and 400 wickets. This milestone was reached during Kerala’s fourth-round fixture against Uttar Pradesh at St Xavier’s College Ground, Thumba, Thiruvananthapuram.
Jalaj Saxena’s Legacy
Saxena began his First-Class career in 2005 in his home state of Madhya Pradesh. Over an 11-year stint, he scored 4041 runs and picked up 159 wickets. In the 2016-17 season, he moved to Kerala, where he has since become the second-highest wicket-taker in First-Class cricket for the team, only behind KN Ananthapadmanabhan.
Milestone Achievement
Saxena crossed the 6000-run mark in Kerala’s previous match in Kolkata and reached the 400-wicket milestone during the match against Uttar Pradesh. He dismissed Nitish Rana via stumping to achieve this feat, completing his 29th five-wicket haul in Ranji Trophy history. His figures for the match were 5/56, showcasing his all-round prowess.
Career Statistics
In his career spanning 143 First-Class matches, Saxena has scored 6795 runs at an average of 33.97 with 14 hundreds and 33 fifties. As a bowler, he has taken 452 wickets at an average of 25.68 with 30 five-wicket hauls and eight ten-wicket hauls.
Domestic stalwart @jalajsaxena33 becomes the first player to achieve the double of 400 wickets and 6000 runs in the Ranji Trophy 👏#RanjiTrophy #JalajSaxena pic.twitter.com/PNB5xSLUKj
— Circle of Cricket (@circleofcricket) November 6, 2024
Saxena’s achievement places him among the elite all-rounders in Indian domestic cricket. He is only the 13th bowler in Ranji Trophy history to reach the 400-wicket mark. Last season, he became one of only four players to achieve 9000 runs and 600 wickets across all formats, joining the ranks of Vinoo Mankad, Madan Lal, and Parvez Rasool.
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