KCA chief Jayesh George 'Very Proud' as Kerala Reaches First-Ever Ranji Trophy Final - credits Players, coach Amay Khurasiya

Kerala has created history by reaching the Ranji Trophy final for the first time ever, edging out Gujarat in a tense semi-final by virtue of a first-innings lead.

The team's incredible resilience throughout the season has been a major talking point as they have looked a top unit, overcoming some tough hurdles throughout the season.

In the semifinal against Gujarat at the Narendra Modi stadium, Kerala posted 457 runs in the first innings. And then in reply, they managed to bundle out Gujarat at 455 runs, managing an agonizing 2-run lead in the process.

Kerala Cricket Association (KCA) chief Jayesh George spoke to MyKhel in an exclusive interview and was elated with the performance.

"I am very happy with the performance of the boys. Even in the quarter-finals and semi-finals, both of which were high-pressure games that extended to the fifth day, they held their nerves exceptionally well. We were all tense, but the boys managed the pressure. The margins of qualification were incredibly narrow. It speaks volumes about their determination and hard work. Credit also goes to the team management, who have put in a lot of effort behind the scenes."

Jalaj Saxena and Aditya Sarwate were the key bowlers who bundled Gujarat while Mohammed Azharuddeen scored a magnificent century. Captain Sachin Baby also marshalled his troops fantastically and was the one who took the final catch of the Gujarat innings. And the KCA chief was all praises for the players.

"The contributions of our senior players like Jalaj Saxena, Aditya Sarwate, and Sachin Baby have been immense. We also had debutants who stepped up and made crucial contributions, particularly in the lower order, which helped us hold on to our innings in tough situations. Very very proud of these boys and very happy to be a part of the association," George added.

It has been a terrific season for Kerala, who have looked a much-improved unit. The Kerala players have thanked their head coach Amay Khurasiya, who was appointed at the start of the season. And George echoes the same notion and credited the coach for instilling toughness among the Kerala players.

"He [Amay Khurasiya] actually has handled the team very well. He showed the players how to handle the pressure right from day one. And we were one of the toughest group we had and didn't lose a single match."

Kerala did have a tough group with Maharashtra, Karnataka, Bengal, Madhya Pradesh as opponents but managed to put up strong performances as they advanced to the knockouts. With the final against Vidarbha up next, the KCA chief is optimistic about the championship prospects/

"Everybody, every cricket lover in Kerala and all the administrators want us to win the Ranji Trophy. Anyway, reaching this far is a great achievement. I think the boys, they have handled the pressure situation well. The Final is another game. One more game away. The luck has been by our side so far and hopefully we will play good cricket in those five days," the KCA chief concluded.