Former Indian selectors Salil Ankola and Chetan Sharma expressed surprise at domestic cricket legend Jalaj Saxena’s continued exclusion from the national team. During a live broadcast, Salil and Chetan, who served as selectors, faced criticism from cricket fans after their comments went viral on social media.
Saxena is one of the top performers of domestic cricket, yet he has never been included in the Indian national team. The all-rounder has scored more than 6,000 runs and taken more than 400 wickets in Ranji Trophy. This season, Saxena made the move from Kerala to Maharashtra and made an impact in the very first match.
Salil Ankola and Chetan Sharma mock themselves over Jalaj Saxena’s exit from India
During the Ranji Trophy match between Kerala and Maharashtra at the Greenfield Stadium on 15 October, Jalaj Saxena came in to bat at number seven when Maharashtra were in serious trouble at 18/5. Notably, four of their top five batsmen were out without opening an account.
Saxena’s impressive career statistics were displayed on the broadcast, and drew attention from Salil Ankola and Chetan Sharma with their on-air discussion. Ankola expressed surprise that Saxena never played for India, while Sharma reminded him that both had served as selectors.
Ankola commented during the live broadcast, “Very surprising that Saxena never played for India.” Chetan laughingly replied, “Salil, you used one word ‘very surprising’, but let me tell you, we both were former selectors.”
“And you were the president!” Ankola pointed out. Chetan concluded, “Fingers must be pointed at us too.”
When they showed Jalaj Saxena’s domestic stats one commentator said that he has very good stats but it is surprising that he has not played for India and another commentator replied
“Surprisingly” We both were selectors and you were the chairman. pic.twitter.com/QvtzZEbWkG https://t.co/q8kHY6rkkv
-Aditya Soni (@imAdsoni) 15 October 2025
Jalaj Saxena misses 35th first-class half-century
Jalaj Saxena played an important role with the bat in helping Maharashtra get out of a difficult situation against Kerala. On Wednesday, Saxena scored 49 runs and took the team to 179/7 in 59 overs. He and Ruturaj Gaikwad, who played a good innings of 91 runs, made a crucial partnership of 122 runs for the sixth wicket in the first innings.
Saxena missed his 35th first-class half-century, being trapped LBW by Kerala fast bowler MD Nidhish, who finished with 4/42. Gaikwad, captain of Chennai Super Kings in the IPL, opened the innings before becoming the victim of young fast bowler Eden Apple Tom. The day’s play had to end early due to bad light.
For those interested, Chetan Sharma served as the chairman of India’s selection committee from 2020 to 2023, while Salil Ankola was a member from January 2023 to August 2024.
Jalaj Saxena – great player of domestic cricket
Jalaj Saxena started his domestic career with Madhya Pradesh in 2005–06, before moving to Kerala in 2016–17, where he played till the 2024–25 season.
During his time with Kerala, he scored 3,153 runs and took 352 wickets across all formats, including 2,252 first-class runs with three centuries and 269 wickets at an average of 20.68, taking five-wicket hauls 23 times.
Saxena has scored over 7,000 runs in first-class cricket with 14 centuries and taken 484 wickets at an average of 25.48, including 34 five-wicket hauls. However, due to the presence of spin all-rounders like Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin and Axar Patel, he has never represented India.
Saxena recently joined Maharashtra, who finished fifth in Elite Group A during the 2024-25 Ranji Trophy season. They had recorded two wins, two draws and three losses in seven matches.
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