Thiruvananthapuram Without its biggest match-winner and with a weight of expectations, Kerala braces up for a tough 2025-26 Ranji season.

Jalaj Saxena, who drew the template for Kerala's big wins at home especially at the St. Xavier's College ground, has joined Maharashtra. Aditya Sarwate, who played a big part in Kerala's maiden entry to the final last season, has moved to Chhattisgarh.

Kerala's success has been built on bespoke pitches at home but the absence of two experienced campaigners for this season has made the task of emulating last year's performance quite arduous. The talent cupboard is bare and it will be hard to fill the void left by Saxena.

Though Kerala has a few handy spinners in white-ball cricket, it is alarming to note that no quality spinner has come through the ranks in red-ball format in the last decade.

The Kerala Cricket Association (KCA) also has failed to develop a proper system to groom spin bowling talents and has instead concentrated on poaching talents from other States.

Former Kerala captain and ICC panel umpire K.N. Ananthapadmanabhan said it was time for the KCA to put in place a system to develop quality spinners. The ex-leg-spinner said KCA should identify potential spinners and give them a long run in the senior team.

K.N. Ananthapadmanabhan. | Photo Credit: File photo

"KCA has done tremendous work for developing the game in the State. We have the best infrastructure and training facilities. But the KCA seems to have ignored the need to develop spinners in the State. We have good batters. Sachin Baby, Mohammed Azharuddeen and Salman Nizar were persisted with and they came of age similarly we should back young spinners. KCA should identify long term prospects and give them a chance to play at least 20 matches at (the) senior level.

"We need a different skill set to excel in red-ball cricket and many of our young spinners don't play many multi-day games and for them containment is the key. They should learn how to pick up wickets in the longer format of the game and that will come with experience. I think leg-spinner Mohamed Enaan has the potential and KCA should groom him properly,'' he said.

On Kerala's chances this season, Ananthapadmanabhan said it would be tough for the team to repeat last year's runner-up feat if it doesn't do well in home matches.

KCA needs to groom spinners: Ananthapadmanabhan