Chennai Super Kings’ left-arm pacer Khaleel Ahmed has officially signed with Essex County Cricket Club, joining them for both the County Championship and the One-Day Cup until the end of the 2025 season.
The 27-year-old, who has been in England since late May as part of the India A squad touring against England Lions, impressed selectors with his performances—most notably claiming the wickets of James Rew, George Hill, Chris Woakes, and his now Essex teammate Jordan Cox during the red-ball fixture at Northampton.
A familiar face in Indian cricket, Khaleel Ahmed has featured in 11 ODIs and 18 T20Is since his international debut in 2018, picking up 15 and 16 wickets respectively. In domestic cricket, representing Rajasthan, he has bagged 92 wickets in 63 List A matches with best figures of 4/35. He has also played 20 first-class matches, taking 56 wickets at an average of 27.67.
Sharing his excitement, Ahmed said:
“I’ve heard a lot about Essex’s rich legacy and I’m thrilled to be part of it. I hope to make an immediate impact, connect with the fans at Chelmsford, and contribute to the team’s success.”
Essex’s Director of Cricket, Chris Silverwood, praised the signing:
“We were impressed with his India A outings. As a left-arm seamer, he brings variety and strengthens our bowling unit for both red and white-ball formats.”
Ahmed, who hails from Tonk, Rajasthan, will don the number 71 jersey for Essex and is set to make his County Championship debut against Yorkshire in York.
Meanwhile, Yuzvendra Chahal, India’s seasoned leg-spinner, has been named in Northamptonshire’s 12-member squad for their upcoming County Championship clash against Kent at Canterbury on Sunday.
Ahmed made his international debut during the 2018 Asia Cup, playing his first ODI against Hong Kong on September 18, 2018.
