Kerala spinner Jalaj Saxena was confident his team could prise out the last three Gujarat wickets early on day five to gain the first-innings lead in the Ranji Trophy semifinal here.
The veteran spinner bowled 36 overs on day four, bagging four wickets to bring his team back in the game after Gujarat raced to 238 for the loss of a single wicket.
“This has been the story of Kerala’s whole season. We are now habitual of these clutch moments and are hopeful we can do well tomorrow,” Jalaj said.
“Credit should be given to the Gujarat batters. They played brilliantly. They showed great confidence in their defence and some grit on the ground.” he added.
The encounter at the Narendra Modi Stadium is Kerala’s first taste of the Ranji semifinal since 2018-19. Jalaj credited head coach Amay Khurasiya’s input for the side punching above its weight this season.
“The coach’s impact is huge on the team. I can proudly say that Kerala is now one of the most hardworking teams in India,” the off-spinner opined.
“The coach is making sure that every player is spending hours and hours in the nets. We are being motivated every day,” he added.
The all-rounder also voiced his frustration over Gujarat’s decision to bring on Hemang Patel in place of the concussed Ravi Bishnoi.
“I don’t think it’s fair. Bishnoi generally bats at nine or ten for his side. You are getting a player who is batting at number five and he scored a crucial 30 runs,” he said.
Published – February 20, 2025 07:47 pm IST
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