![[WATCH] Former selectors 'surprised' that Jalaj Saxena has never played for India mock themselves on air](https://cricketmood.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Bombaytimes.jpg "[WATCH] Former selectors 'surprised' that Jalaj Saxena has never played for India mock themselves on air 1")
A unusual event unfolded on Day 1 of the 2025-26 Ranji Trophy match between Kerala and Maharashtra at the Greenfield International Stadium. Salil Ankola, Chetan Sharma, and senior Jalaj Saxena, all former national selectors and current commentators, were involved in the incident.
Jalaj Saxena had just walked out to bat with Maharashtra in deep danger, having been reduced to 18/5 at one stage.
Saxena, along with Ruturaj Gaikwad, led Maharashtra through calmer waters. Meanwhile, a statistic appeared on the screen, indicating that Saxena was only the fourth Indian player to achieve the uncommon feat of 7000 runs and 400 wickets in First Class cricket.
An impressed Ankola said it was “very surprising” that Saxena had never played for India despite his outstanding all-round performance. Chetan cleverly answered to Ankola’s comment.
Chetan: Salil, you used the word’very surprising’, but let me remind you that we were both past selectors.
Ankola: And you were the chairman! (laughs)
Chetan: Fingers must have been raised at us as well.
When they showed Jalaj Saxena’s domestic stats one commentator said he has such great stats but it’s surprising that he hasn’t played for India and the other commentator replied
“Surprisingly” both of us were the selectors and you were the chairman. pic.twitter.com/QvtzZEbWkG https://t.co/q8kHY6rkkv
— Aditya Soni (@imAdsoni) October 15, 2025
THE STATS OF JALAJ SAXENA IN FIRST CLASS CRICKET 🤯 pic.twitter.com/dYl6P5Bcm2
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) October 15, 2025
Ankola featured on the national selection panel for the men’s team from January 2023 to August 2024. On the other hand, Chetan served as the chairperson of the men’s selection committee in various separate stints from December 2020 to February 2023.
Speaking about Saxena and his glorious numbers in the domestic scene, he is currently the leading wicket-taker of the Ranji Trophy (as of October 16). To top that, he has also scored 7060 runs in FC cricket (prior to the ongoing Kerala-Maharashtra clash). Despite such wonderful numbers, he was never called up to represent India.
India
