জলজ সাক্সেনা

Born in Indore, Madhya Pradesh, Jalaj Saxena is one of the most happening all-rounders currently in the Ranji Trophy 2017/18. Making his debut in the 2007/08 season, the all-rounder has been a devout performer over the years in first-class cricket, accumulating over 5000 runs and plucking 200-plus wickets. In 2013, Mumbai Indians signed him as a replacement player for Lendl Simmons.

Jalaj's notable achievement was when he won the Lala Amarnath award for the best all-rounder for the 2014-15 season, in which he piled up 768 runs and took 20 wickets in the first-class format which was testimony for RCB bagging him in the auction for INR 10 Lakh. Having played for his home state during the first few years, he made a switch to Kerala in 2016. An auspicious start to the Ranji Trophy 2017/18 season has seen Jalaj top the list for the wicket-takers with 29 scalps in 4 matches.

Interesting fact: Jalaj's brother Jatin plays for Chhattisgarh.

By Sriram AS