Ranji Trophy 2017-18: Playing XI of the season

All-rounder

Jalaj Saxena, Kerala – 44 wickets at 17.11 in 7 matches

Jalaj Saxena was the leading wicket-taker this season besides scoring heavy runs

The experienced all-rounder Jalaj Saxena, who switched over to Kerala from Madhya Pradesh at the start of the 2016/17 season, ended up as the highest wicket-taker in 2017-18. Not only that, he hit 522 runs at 52.20 though Kerala were eliminated in the quarter-final after losing to eventual winners Vidarbha by a massive 412 runs.

Eleven wickets against Jharkhand inspired Kerala to a nine-wicket win while ten wickets and a century – also a first innings 79 – fashioned another outright victory against Rajasthan. He got a century and three fifties and bagged three five-wicket hauls to go with two ten-wicket match hauls.