Kerala’s remarkable journey in the Ranji Trophy this season has been nothing short of extraordinary, and one of the key figures in their success has been seasoned all-rounder Jalaj Saxena, who has bagged 34 wickets at an average of 16 while scoring 271 runs with the bat – including a crucial 67 in the quarter-final. In an exclusive interview with RevSportz, Saxena reflects on Kerala’s historic run to the semi-finals, the thrilling quarter-final clash against Jammu and Kashmir, and the spirit that has driven him to push himself on the field. He also opened up about not getting picked for the Indian team despite scoring close to 7000 First-Class runs and picking up almost 500 wickets.
Here are the excerpts:
Q: A sensational season for Kerala so far. Semi-finals of Ranji Trophy. How has the journey been this season?
Jalaj Saxena: It’s has been an exceptional season for us. We are all very happy. The credit goes to each and every member of the team, be it a player or a support staff or the coaching staff, administration. So, kudos to everyone. We have been doing an exceptional job on the field. I hope that we create history this time.
Q: Take us through that quarter-final against Jammu and Kashmir. A one-run lead in the first innings and then you guys had to bat it out to draw and progress.
Saxena: It was a crazy match. That’s the beauty of Test [style] cricket, that you have two chances. And the kind of excitement we had in those two innings was exceptional. Salman (Nizar) played some brilliant innings. In both the innings, he has played exceptionally well. Based on that 81-run last-wicket partnership between Salman and Basil Thampi, I will tell you one secret. When we were 200 for 9 and the day got over, Amay Khurasiya sent us a message saying let’s meet at the meeting room at 7 o’clock in the evening.
So, we went there. We were all feeling down that we have to score 80 more runs and we were in a tough situation. He showed us an innings of Michael Hussey and Glenn McGrath where they contributed close to 100 runs for Australia versus South Africa. So, we kept on watching that innings for like 30-40 minutes. And then he said that if they can do that, we can also do that. And in the morning, exactly the same thing happened. You know, Salman was playing as if he is Hussey, and Basil was playing as if he was McGrath. And we did it. It was something exceptional. We all enjoyed it thoroughly.
Q: Amey Khurasiya was sending some chits and calculations when you were batting. What was that all about?
Saxena: Those were all calculations. I won’t be able to talk much about those things since it’s an internal part of the team. But he is a very well-educated coach, has some great innovative ideas as well. And the results are obviously there. I am 200 per cent sure that this Kerala team is one of the most hard-working teams just because of the coach. He is making sure that each and every player is working hard. He is providing those facilities to each and every player. That is very important. That change is quite visible this season.
Q: Season after season, you come and pick up wickets for fun, score runs in plenty. What is the secret?
Saxena: I don’t want to jinx it. I think it’s all about the hard work. It’s all about the determination and the grit to take wickets. Every season, I try to become better. I try to learn a few things. If you are playing professional cricket, you have to be there. You have to learn new things every year. You have to work on your bowling. So, the process is the same every day. Every day, every season, off-season also I am working very hard towards my bowling, towards my fitness. This consistency and the hard work I am putting in, I think the result is just the outcome of the process.
Q: Does it hurt that players younger than you, maybe less skilful than you, with lesser accolades than you in the domestic circuit have made their respective debuts for India?
Saxena: I don’t know anyone who is less talented than me. Whoever has played for India, they are exceptionally talented. I am very happy for them. There are no grudges. There is nothing against them. I am not hurt at all. Yes, there was a phase when I was expecting an India call. Yes, you know, phases come in your life. But then, right now, I am in that zone where I am enjoying my cricket. I am hopeful that one day I will play for the country. And because of that hope, because of that motivation, I can work really hard in the off-season. I can think about learning new things. I am using that as a motivation. But I don’t have any grudges nor am I hurt. I am enjoying my cricket thoroughly and I am really looking forward to these games.
Q: Can you talk more about those phases where you expected that India call-up?
Saxena: I think I am a human being. When I was young, I was performing, so naturally as a human being, you expect things. But later on, with age, I realised that there are things which you cannot control. Things which are uncontrollable, you should not think about. You should focus on the things which are controllable, which are in your hands. And that is process, that is your hard work, that is your grit, that is your positivity. Those things only you can work on. Later on, as you grow, you read books, you talk to people. So they teach you, they tell you what is more important in life. To be happy, to be content is far, far better than just being hurt and feeling that you are not getting selected. People will come to you and say that you should have been there. But I think that phase is gone. I am still hopeful that I will play for India. But I am very happy and very content. I am enjoying my cricket.
Q: Have you had any incidents like that where you have just walked up to a selector attending domestic games and asked why you aren’t getting picked?
Saxena: I think this is not my job. My job is to play cricket. And it is not fair if I go to a selector and ask why I am not there. It is not what a cricketer should do. A cricketer’s job is to go into the field, express himself and play cricket. And the rest, it is up to the selector. That is their job to decide what team they want. And I am pretty sure that every selector, if they select a team, there has to be a reason behind it. Every selector has their own opinion. I really respect that. I have never had such an incident where I went to a selector and asked why.
Q: Throughout your career, has there been any sort of communication from the selectors, past or present, explaining why you aren’t getting picked?
Saxena: No, nothing like that. Nothing like that. Because as a player, you just need to focus on your things. You can’t expect that everybody will come to you and give you sympathy. I don’t want sympathy. I am very happy and I am very content and I am enjoying this beautiful game. So, I don’t have any grudges.
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Q: As a person, how would you describe yourself?
Saxena: People keep changing. So, Jalaj Saxena, when he was 19 years old, he was a different person. Jalaj Saxena, when he was 25, was different. Jalaj Saxena, when I see myself now, I am a different person. So, you know, there were phases in my life where I was totally into cricket. I was spending 10 hours in the ground. I was doing training and everything. Right now, I am in a phase where I am enjoying my cricket with my teammates. I am not only working on my skills, I am also trying to help the other players as well. Trying to motivate them, trying to give whatever little I know about my cricket or whatever little I have experiences in my cricket. So, I am trying to share these experiences with my fellow cricketers.
My role has changed and I am thoroughly enjoying that role also. It’s like cricket has given so much to me. Now, it’s payback time. I am trying to give something to other players also. I am trying to share my experience with them. So, it’s a beautiful feeling. As a person also, I think I am evolving. When I was young, I was short-tempered. Even in the field, there were instances where there was a rush of blood. These things happen when you want to perform and you are not performing. So, I was like, why am I not performing? I have to. I used to get angry at myself, that why am I not performing? I should do better. Right now, I am controlling my emotions also. So, I have learnt a lot in these last 20 years.
As a human being, I think I am evolving. I have picked up many hobbies as well. I started travelling. I really love to travel. I do yoga a lot. I do meditation. I started reading a few books also. So, yes, as a person also, I think I am evolving. Photography is also my hobby. I think India is very beautiful. We should explore India. When I started travelling, I didn’t realise that India is so beautiful. When I started travelling, I was like, wow, India is so beautiful. There are so many hidden places which we have never explored or which we have never heard of. You meet new people, you explore places, you learn from the culture. So, again, I think everyone should travel and it teaches you a lot. I definitely feel that every place has its own energy and you can really connect to that. Especially mountains. When I go to the mountains, I feel that there is some positivity in those mountains. I really enjoy doing my meditation and my yoga and training also. In the off-season, I go to the mountains. I try to train myself. I try to trek. Mountains are a great place to train because the weather is pretty cool. And because of the low oxygen level, you can train really well. So, I try to go there for a month or so and I train really hard there in the mountains.
Q: You talked about the dream of playing for India still being alive. That motivates you. But at the age of 38, do you think it is realistic?
Saxena: It’s not realistic at all. But at the same time, it’s not my job to think that it’s realistic or not. As I said, it’s not my job to think that I should get picked. It’s not my job to say that I should not get picked. My job is to motivate myself. My job is to work hard and prepare myself for professional cricket. And to do that, my process when I was young was to dream of playing for the country. And that was the reason I was doing well, I think. That was the reason I was putting in my efforts. The process is still the same. I’m dreaming of playing for the country and I’m working very hard. And every year, I’m learning new things and I’m trying to develop my game. The process is the same. So, as I said, it’s not my job to think why I didn’t get picked. Similarly, it’s not my job to say that I should not be picked. My job is to just follow the process
Q: Recently we saw the likes of Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma coming back to Ranji Trophy among all other international stars. What is the importance of grinding it out in domestic circuit?
Saxena: Domestic cricket is very important for Indian cricket. If you see all these legends, all the international stars which we are producing, they are all coming from the grassroot levels. It’s all because of the structure we have in India and the kind of domestic cricket we have in India. It starts from under-14 cricket to Ranji Trophy, Irani Cup, Duleep Trophy. We have a beautiful structure in India and it plays a huge and vital role to produce international stars and great players. I don’t think the charm is fading away. I think the domestic cricket, Ranji Trophy especially, is still relevant for Indian cricket. And Virat, Rohit, their playing Ranji Trophy shows that they are giving importance to Ranji Trophy and domestic cricket, which is a very beautiful sight. And I am sure that this will motivate youngsters to do well.
Q: Any advice that you would want to give to young cricketers?
Saxena: There is no substitute for hard work. This is what I will tell all the youngsters that keep working hard. You can make it.
Q: Is the semi-final against Gujarat the most important game for Kerala?
Saxena: Obviously, it is a very important game for us. We have worked really hard for this game, for this season. God has been very kind that we are playing this tournament and this semi-final match. We have only played one semi-final till now, Kerala. And this is the second time we have qualified for the semi. It is a very big thing and we all are very excited about it. We all are working hard, and being a professional cricketer, I can tell you that we are doing all the things right. We are putting in our hard work, our discipline. We are very positive and as I said, it is a very important game for us. So, hopefully, we will do well and create history. It is an important moment for us.
Q: What are the three best memories from your cricketing career?
Saxena: One very special moment for me was when I shared the dressing room with Sachin Tendulkar. I was playing for Mumbai Indians and that was my first season for Mumbai Indians and we won the trophy. I clicked a picture with Sachin sir and that was a very precious moment for me. When you see Sachin Tendulkar, you don’t talk much. You just keep looking at him and you are like, what a player he is. You just observe him. You don’t talk to him. You just observe him. I was young and for me, he was God. I was just observing him. When I clicked the picture with him, holding the trophy was something very special. That was a moment which I will always cherish.
I played a game against North Zone in Deodhar Trophy long back. Virat was also there. So, I bowled to him and that was also very special because he is a player. After Sachin, I think he is the most impactful player. He changed Indian cricket and we admire Virat a lot. I admire Virat a lot. He changed Indian cricket. He changed the dynamics of Indian cricket. He served Indian cricket for a very long time. So, it was a big moment for me too. I was bowling to Virat Kohli in a domestic match. It was a very memorable moment for me.
I would say my first India A match in West Indies. We were playing against West Indies A in West Indies. There were a lot of talks that Jalaj got selected and he didn’t do well in domestic cricket and he still got picked for India A. I was young and I wanted to prove myself. I went there on the field. I did well in that tour. So, that tour was very special. I played with many players. Like all the international players who are right now in Indian cricket. Rohit [Sharma] was there. [Cheteshwar] Pujara was there. Bhuvi [Bhuvneshwar Kumar] was there. So, all these players who have been playing, who have been in the Indian team. They were all there. I shared the dressing room with all these players. And I did well in that tournament. It was something very beautiful for me.
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