Harbhajan Singh blasts Rohit Sharma and selectors, questions value of Ranji Trophy in latest tirade

Harbhajan Singh has come down hard on Rohit Sharma and the Indian cricket team management for overlooking the talented all-rounder Jalaj Saxena again and again despite his red-ball heroics.

The Indian selectors and the team management are already under heavy scrutiny after New Zealand handed them the embarrassment of whitewashing in the recent three-match Test series at home.

India has been struggling in Test cricket since earlier this year; despite this, the national selectors and captain Rohit Sharma are paying heed to the proven match-winners in domestic cricket like Jalaj Saxena, leaving Harbhajan Singh furious at them.

Harbhajan Singh slams Indian selectors and Rohit Sharma for overlooking Jalaj Saxena’s record-breaking Ranji Trophy performances

Jalaj Saxena has shattered records and set an extraordinary record by becoming the first Indian in Ranji Trophy history to claim 400 wickets and amass over 6,000 runs.

Yet, despite his towering contributions and unyielding consistency over the years in India’s premier domestic tournament, the doors to international cricket remain tightly shut for the all-rounder.

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The off-spinner has been continuously overlooking the India call-up, forcing one and all, including the former Indian spinner Harbhajan Singh, to question just what more the 37-year-old has to do to earn a spot on the Indian cricket team.

The Indian cricket team has always prided itself on recognizing talent from domestic tournaments like the Ranji Trophy for Test selection, but Saxena’s case is different as the IPL performers are giving preferences over the first-class heroics.

He is the ideal all-rounder for any team, but the national selectors remain. Keep a close eye on him for India's selection.

Harbhajan says Jalaj Saxena deserves India A call-up

With each season, he has proved his skill with both bat and ball, but he has not earned a call-up to the Indian cricket team, as the trend of selecting players from the IPL for national duty has become more common in the last couple of years.

Younger players with fewer credentials on the domestic circuit have donned the Indian jersey, overshadowing the Ranji Trophy performers. Reacting to a journalist’s viral social media post, Harbhajan Singh has sparked a storm by openly questioning the relevance of the Ranji Trophy for players dreaming of donning the Indian jersey.

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He strongly reacted to the baffling exclusion of all-rounder Jalaj Saxena. The former World Cup winner questioned the national selectors and Rohit Sharma about whether a player’s dedication to the Ranji Trophy was simply in vain.

With players often getting fast-tracked from the IPL for national duty, Harbhajan noted that it seems Ranji’s grit and consistency are no longer the golden ticket they once were in Indian cricket.

Harbhajan Singh questions the value of the Ranji Trophy after Saxena's exclusion

He believes that Jalaj should have been picked in the India A squad for the ongoing Australia tour.

The former Indian spinner slammed the selectors for valuing IPL performances over proven track records in the Ranji Trophy, questioning whether playing the premier tournament is useless.

Harbhajan Singh posted on his X handle: “Agree with you. He should be considered at least for India A. Useless of playing Ranji now? people are getting picked from IPL.”

Agree with you . He should be considered at least for India A. Useless of playing Ranji now ? people are getting picked from IPL. https://t.co/ejMzYxj5jS

— Harbhajan Turbanator (@harbhajan_singh) November 8, 2024