Veteran all-rounder Jalaj Saxena has made headlines by leaving Kerala after nine seasons and signing with Maharashtra ahead of the 2025-26 Ranji Trophy season. The move has created a buzz in Indian domestic cricket circles, as Saxena has been one of the most reliable and productive performers in the Ranji Trophy over the past decade.
Saxena’s journey in domestic cricket has been long and decorated. He began his career with Madhya Pradesh in 2005-06 before making the switch to Kerala in 2016-17. Over nine seasons with Kerala, he became the backbone of their team, contributing heavily with both bat and ball. His numbers speak volumes — more than 7,000 runs in first-class cricket at an average near 34, and 480-plus wickets with 34 five-wicket hauls to his name. That blend of batting stability and relentless off-spin made him a match-winner on multiple occasions.
For Maharashtra, this is a huge coup. Their Ranji campaign in recent seasons has been inconsistent, and the addition of an experienced campaigner like Saxena gives them both balance and depth. He is likely to slot into the middle order while spearheading their spin attack, offering leadership to a squad that has several talented youngsters still learning the grind of first-class cricket. His presence will also ease pressure on their frontline bowlers and allow more strategic flexibility.
For Kerala, however, this is a major loss. Saxena was often the difference-maker for them — the one who could dig the team out of trouble with gritty batting or break a threatening partnership with a crucial spell. His departure leaves a significant hole in both their batting and bowling departments, and they will now have to depend on younger players to step up and fill the void.
Saxena himself has described this move as an opportunity to embrace a new challenge and contribute to a side looking to rise in the domestic pecking order. At 38, he is in the twilight of his career, but his fitness levels and hunger to perform remain impressive. This transition could also give him one last shot at a title run with a fresh setup, something he has publicly said he still aspires to achieve before hanging up his boots.
His transfer is a reminder of how dynamic India’s domestic circuit can be, with players still looking for fresh motivations and roles even after long stints with one team. The 2025-26 Ranji Trophy season will now carry extra intrigue for fans — not just to see how Maharashtra utilize Saxena’s experience but also to see how Kerala recalibrate without their talisman.
This switch could prove to be one of the defining moves of the upcoming season, tilting Maharashtra from being mid-table challengers into serious title contenders. For Saxena, it is a chance to script a final chapter worthy of his prolific domestic career.
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