Great exodus from MP Ranji: Jalaj leads

BHOPAL: Amid a raging controversy over elections in Madhya Pradesh Cricket Association (MPCA) and weeks before the Ranji season kicks off, the state has witnessed an exodus of eight prominent players in 45 days. This includes India's best all-rounder award recipient Jalaj Saxena, who will hit the Kerala pitch. Madhya Pradesh also lost a good coach in JP Yadav who has joined Railways team.

Besides Jalaj, key players who left the state include Bhopal division captain Jatin Saxena and Salman Beig. Sources said MP Under-23 players Ashutosh Singh, Pankaj Rao and two others have taken a no-objection certificate from the state to play for other Ranji teams, including Chhattisgarh.

The biggest setback for the state Ranji team was to lose Jalaj, who is one of the best all-rounders in the country. As an opener and off-spinner, he was a fulcrum of the Madhya Pradesh team and helped catapult the state to Ranji semi-finals. Jalaj finished with the second-best match haul in Ranji Trophy history, taking 16 for 154 to help MP beat Railways.