Cricket

Former Indian cricket team spinner Harbhajan Singh has expressed his disappointment over the selection committee's decision to overlook Ranji Trophy record-holder Jalaj Saxena for the India A team. Saxena, who has played in the domestic circuit for 17 years, holds the unique distinction of being the only player to have 400 wickets and 6000 runs to his name in Ranji Trophy history.In response to a tweet mentioning Saxena's record, Harbhajan questioned the relevance of domestic tournaments in the current scenario where players are being picked from the Indian Premier League (IPL). "Agree with you. He should be considered at least for India A. Useless of playing Ranji now? People are getting picked from IPL," Harbhajan replied.Harbhajan's comments come in the wake of India's disappointing 3-0 series defeat against New Zealand at home. The former cricketer said that it was a disappointing result for the Rohit Sharma-led side, especially considering the expectations before the series."This entire series has been quite disappointing for all of us. When New Zealand came here, the expectation was that the result would be 3-0 and India would win the series. I can only say that they outplayed us and they took advantage of those conditions," Harbhajan told ANI.Harbhajan praised New Zealand for their performance, saying that they outplayed India and took advantage of the conditions. He also highlighted the importance of playing to one's strengths and adapting to different conditions."New Zealand played to their strengths. They knew that they had a good spin attack and they used it to their advantage. They also adapted to the conditions very well," Harbhajan said.Harbhajan's comments have sparked a debate about the importance of domestic tournaments and the role of the IPL in player selection. It remains to be seen whether the selection committee will reconsider their decision and include Saxena in the India A team for the upcoming matches against Australia A.

Bengal's Anustup Majumdar Century Rescues Team from Early TroubleVeteran Bengal skipper Anustup Majumdar played a pivotal role in steering his team out of early trouble on the opening day of their Ranji Trophy Group C match against Karnataka. Opting to bat first, Bengal lost opener Shuvam Dey for a duck and Sudip Gharami for 5, leaving them reeling at 21/2.Majumdar, batting at No. 4, steadied the innings with a crucial partnership with Sudip Chatterjee (50). The 40-year-old captain showcased exceptional control, hitting 16 fours on his way to a century off 157 balls. The pair added 100 runs for the third wicket before Karnataka's Vasuki Koushik dismissed Chatterjee.Majumdar remained unruffled, anchoring the innings with authority while Shahbaz Ahmed provided solid support. However, Majumdar's fine innings came to an end just after his century, trapped lbw by Shreyas Gopal. Avilin Ghosh played a quick counter-attacking knock of 27 before debutant seamer Abhilash Shetty dismissed him.At stumps, Shahbaz was unbeaten on 54, alongside veteran keeper-batter Wriddhiman Saha (6 not out). Bengal finished the day at 249/5, leaving Karnataka with a slight advantage.Jalaj Saxena Creates History with Double MilestoneIn another Group C match, Kerala's Jalaj Saxena became the first player in Ranji Trophy history to achieve the remarkable double of 400 wickets and 6000 runs. The 37-year-old spin-bowling all-rounder claimed 5/56 in 17 overs to cross the 400-wicket milestone, adding to his 6000-run mark achieved last week.Kerala bundled out Uttar Pradesh for a modest 162, with Basil Thampi providing support with 2/18. In reply, Kerala reached 82/2 at stumps, trailing by 80 runs.Madhya Pradesh Dominate Bihar with Centuries from Shubham Sharma and Venkatesh IyerIn Group E, Madhya Pradesh captain Shubham Sharma notched up his second century of the season, while Venkatesh Iyer's explosive ton put his team firmly in command against Bihar. Sharma crafted an unbeaten 134 off 183 balls, while Iyer smashed 118 not out off just 113 balls, featuring four sixes and 11 fours.Their 234-run unbroken stand has placed Madhya Pradesh in a dominant position going into the next day.Punjab Spinners Fox HaryanaIn Group B, rookie spin duo Emanjot Singh Chahal and Jass Inder Singh spun a web around Haryana, sharing seven wickets to bowl out the group leaders for a mere 114. Emanjot took 3/43, while Jass Inder starred with figures of 4/33.In reply, Punjab reached 90/5 at stumps, thanks to Anmolpreet Singh's gritty 45 not out. They trail Haryana by 24 runs heading into the next day.

Kerala's seasoned all-rounder, Jalaj Saxena, has etched his name in the annals of Indian domestic cricket by becoming the first player to amass 6000 runs and claim 400 wickets in the prestigious Ranji Trophy. This remarkable feat was achieved during the Elite Group C fourth round match against Uttar Pradesh at St Xavier's College Ground.Saxena, who had crossed the 6000-run milestone in Kerala's previous match in Kolkata, reached the double landmark after dismissing left-hander Nitish Rana with a sharp off-spin delivery that resulted in a stumping. The 37-year-old became the 13th bowler in Ranji Trophy history to reach the 400-wicket mark, a testament to his exceptional bowling prowess.Saxena's journey in First-Class cricket began in 2005 with Madhya Pradesh, where he spent 11 years, claiming 159 wickets and scoring 4041 runs. In the 2016-17 season, he moved to Kerala and has since become the second-highest wicket-taker in First-Class cricket for the team, behind only KN Ananthapadmanabhan.Last season, Saxena joined the ranks of legends when he became only the fourth player in Indian domestic cricket history to achieve 9000 runs and 600 wickets across all formats, joining the exclusive company of Vinoo Mankad, Madan Lal, and Parvez Rasool.In the Ranji Trophy alone, Saxena's record is unparalleled among active all-rounders and stands in a league with Indian greats like Vijay Hazare, Madan Lal, and Sunil Joshi. His all-round abilities have been instrumental in Kerala's success in recent seasons, and he continues to be a vital cog in the team's quest for silverware.