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Who is Jalaj Saxena? Snubbed domestic veteran comes into focus after historic performance for Kerala

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37-year-old Jalaj Saxena on Sunday created history in India’s domestic cricket. The veteran picked 9/68 which is the second-best bowling figure for Kerala. Amarjith Singh with 9/45 vs Andhra in 1971 is still the best for the state from down south.

For ardent cricket fans, Jalaj Saxena is a name that brings a mixture of sadness and anger. India’s selectors have time and again snubbed him for national duties despite his tall feats with the bat and ball.

Jalaj Saxena is a player who can open the innings as well as play in the middle order. With the ball, he has over 430 wickets in domestic cricket. So who is this Jalaj Saxena exactly? His career figures might leave you numbed.

Jalaj Saxena: India’s Greatest ‘What If’ Story

In a curious case of co-incidence, Jalaj Saxena made his domestic cricket debut for Madhya Pradesh against Kerala. His first game came in late 2005 just two days after he had turned 19 years old. Madhya Pradesh had a good mix of young players and experienced stars in their team. The likes of Abbas Ali and Devendra Bundela are domestic legends while Narendra Hirwani was a former India star. Naman Ojha was another player who was slowly rising through the ranks with the MP side. Jalaj Saxena scored 27 with the bat after being slotted in at number 8.

The next few years saw the rise of the talented youngster who showed promise with the bat and ball. It wasn’t long before Jalaj Saxena became a huge part of the Madhya Pradesh team with brimming talent. At a time when India was struggling to find a decent all-round talent, the selectors missed a trick. Irfan Pathan had started to stumble with his actions and had lost his pace and his place in the team. Yuvraj Singh after his ODI World Cup exploits in 2011 lost his way after his illness.

The cricketer from Indore kept going and piling on the runs and picking up wickets. Years of toil got him acclaim but sadly no selection to the blues was forthcoming. The closest he came to playing for the senior team was when he was part of the India A squad. After his impressive 2012 season where he scored 769 runs, a call-up to the India A team came about, during the tour match between Australia and the representative side, Saxena picked 5 wickets. One of his scalps included Usman Khawaja the Australian opener who is a very good player of spin. New Zealand also fell to the guile of Jalaj Saxena as he picked 6 for 103 against the touring side.

In 2016, Jalaj Saxena moved to Kerala and has played a huge role in their rise. What makes his situation even said is that he has played just one game in the IPL. During the 2021 season, Saxena played for PBKS vs Delhi Capitals. The veteran went wicketless and that was the end of his IPL stint as well.

Interestingly his older brother Jatin is also a cricketer and is currently playing in the Sri Lankan domestic circuit. In the twilight of his career, Jalaj Saxena will go down as the greatest ‘What if’ in Indian Cricket. With over 6600 runs in the longer format and 14 centuries, Jalaj Saxena will be a sad case study for future generations.

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Ben Curran’s Zimbabwe Call-Up: A Historic Moment for the Curran Legacy

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Ben Curran, brother of England cricketers Sam and Tom Curran, has earned his maiden call-up to Zimbabwe’s ODI squad for the upcoming series against Afghanistan. The Curran family has deep ties to Zimbabwean cricket, with Ben’s father, Kevin Malcolm Curran, and grandfather, Kevin Patrick Curran, representing Zimbabwe internationally.

The series begins with T20Is on December 11, followed by ODIs and Tests. Ben will feature exclusively in the 50-over format. A left-handed batter, Ben boasts an impressive domestic career, averaging 33.30 in List A and 34.70 in first-class cricket. His inclusion reflects Zimbabwe’s reliance on talent with global exposure.

Zimbabwe’s ODI squad, led by Craig Ervine, also features rising stars like Newman Nyamhuri. The T20I side, captained by Sikandar Raza, includes dynamic players like Blessing Muzarabani and Ryan Burl, signaling a balanced blend of experience and youth for the challenging series ahead.

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Australian Media Criticizes Rohit Sharma After Crushing Defeat to Australia

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Following India’s heavy loss to Australia in the first Test of the series, Australian media highlighted key concerns for the Indian team, including Rohit Sharma’s performance as captain. Pat Cummins and his team’s emphatic win by 209 runs sparked discussions about India’s bowling strategy and batting collapse.

Australian newspapers like The Age underscored Mitchell Starc’s lethal bowling display as a stark reminder of his prowess in Test cricket. Starc’s fiery spell dismantled India’s top order, a performance seen as pivotal in Australia’s dominant victory. The media also pointed out the pressure mounting on Rohit Sharma for tactical shortcomings, including field placements and decision-making under challenging circumstances.

India’s batting lineup faltered against Australia’s aggressive bowling, with only a few players resisting. Critics emphasized that the Indian team’s inability to adapt to the pink-ball conditions in Adelaide cost them dearly. The media also praised Australia for its disciplined approach, particularly the consistency of its pace attack, which Starc and Cummins led.

As the series progresses, this defeat puts India under immense pressure to bounce back, especially with the spotlight on Rohit Sharma’s leadership and the team’s resilience. Fans now await India’s response in the next Test.

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Chitwan Rhinos Secure Dominant 33-Run Victory Over Sudurpaschim Royals in NPL

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Chitwan Rhinos delivered a commanding performance to hand Sudurpaschim Royals their first defeat in the Nepal Premier League (NPL) at Kirtipur. Winning the toss, Chitwan set a competitive total of 164/5 in 20 overs, led by Hassan Eisakhil’s stellar 65 off 52 balls. Ravi Bopara added an explosive 36 off 18 balls, while Sudurpaschim’s bowlers Scott Kuggeleijn and Dipendra Singh Airee each picked up crucial wickets.

In response, Sudurpaschim struggled, bowled out for 131 in 18.2 overs. Despite Ishan Pandey’s resilient 35 and contributions from Saif Zaib and Brandon McMullen, Chitwan’s disciplined bowling attack, featuring Kushal Malla and Amar Routela taking two wickets each, sealed the game. Chitwan now sits third on the table, while Sudurpaschim retains second due to net run rate.

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