Veteran all-rounder Jalaj Saxena etched his name in Ranji Trophy history by becoming the first player to achieve the rare double of 6,000 runs and 400 wickets in the prestigious domestic tournament. Saxena reached this milestone during Kerala’s fourth-round match against Uttar Pradesh at St Xavier’s College Ground in Thiruvananthapuram.
The 37-year-old crossed the 6,000-run mark in Kerala’s previous match in Kolkata and hit the 400-wicket milestone with a crucial dismissal of UP’s star batter Nitish Rana, marking his fourth wicket of the innings. Saxena’s performance dismantled Uttar Pradesh’s batting lineup, as he claimed several key wickets on both sides of the lunch break. He is now the 13th bowler in Ranji Trophy history to reach the 400-wicket mark and remains the only active player with this unique feat.
Most Prolific Ranji Trophy All-Rounders
| Player | Runs | Wickets |
|---|---|---|
| Jalaj Saxena | 6028 runs | 401 wickets |
| Sunil Joshi | 4116 runs | 479 wickets |
| Sairaj Bahutule | 4426 runs | 405 wickets |
| Madan Lal | 5270 runs | 351 wickets |
| Rishi Dhawan | 4576 runs | 342 wickets |
A Remarkable Domestic Career
Saxena started his First-Class career with Madhya Pradesh in 2005, where he scored 4,041 runs and took 159 wickets before moving to Kerala in the 2016-17 season. Since then, he has risen to become Kerala’s second-highest wicket-taker in First-Class cricket, trailing only KN Ananthapadmanabha, who has 344 wickets. Additionally, Saxena is approaching another milestone as he nears 2,000 runs for Kerala in the Ranji Trophy.
With his consistent performances, Jalaj Saxena has proven to be one of the most prolific all-rounders in India’s domestic circuit, leaving a lasting impact on the Ranji Trophy.