Far from the madding crowd lies the VCA stadium. It is the last stop for a maddeningly thrilling journey for Kerala in India’s premier domestic cricket tournament. An 81-run partnership by the last pair against Jammu & Kashmir that gave a one-run first-innings lead in the quarterfinal; and a two-run lead against Gujarat, courtesy a … Read more
He may be better known as an umpire now, but K.N. Ananthapadmanabhan was one of the best spinners on India’s domestic circuit for years, with 344 wickets in First-Class cricket. He was also the captain when Kerala qualified for the knockout stage of the Ranji Trophy for the first time in 1994-95. Twenty years later, … Read more
When Gujarat resumed its first innings on day four of its Ranji Trophy semifinal against Kerala on Wednesday, the side looked primed to chase down the visitor’s score of 457. Former skipper Priyank Panchal, who had reached the three-figure mark the previous day, and Manan Hingrajia had already put up a 91-run stand. The pair … Read more
Jalaj Saxena’s four-wicket haul seemed to be taking his team to the cusp of history, but a knock beyond his years from Jaymeet Patel ensured the first Ranji Trophy semifinal between Gujarat and Kerala in Ahmedabad is tantalizingly poised heading into the final day. Jaymeet has been in rollocking form in his maiden First-Class season, … Read more
A sublime unbeaten century from opener Priyank Panchal in his 100th First-Class (FC) game helped Gujarat fight back and remain on track to overcome Kerala’s formidable first-innings total during their Ranji Trophy semifinal here on Wednesday. Panchal remained unbeaten on 117 off 200 balls at the end of the third day, taking his side to … Read more
Jalaj Saxena has been one of the most consistent performers in the domestic circuit. But even then, an India call-up has eluded the all-rounder. As he scored another gritty fifty against Jammu and Kashmir in a Ranji Trophy quarterfinal clash at the MCA Stadium on Sunday and helped Kerala fight back after reeling at 11 … Read more
For the last seven years, Jalaj Saxena has been the go-to guy for Kerala and its biggest match-winner in the Ranji Trophy. The 37-year-old Indore-born cricketer played a big hand in Kerala’s recent innings victory over Uttar Pradesh at the KCA-St. Xavier’s College ground. Jalaj wrecked Uttar Pradesh with a 10-wicket haul, finishing with figures … Read more