Follow UsAfter being ignored by India, Khaleel Ahmed has signed a deal with Essex for the remainder of the 2025 County Championship season. The left-arm seamer joins Ruturaj Gaikwad (Yorkshire), Ishan Kishan (Nottinghamshire), Tilak Varma (Hampshire) and Yuzvendra Chahal (Northamptonshire) as the fifth Indian to play county cricket this year.
Khaleel will be part of Essex’s side in both red-ball format and the 50-over event, where he will get a chance to prove his worth to the selectors, ahead of the 2027 ODI World Cup. The left-arm pacer has picked up 56 wickets in 20 first-class games, and has an opportunity to add more to his tally in the upcoming days.
“I am thrilled to sign for Essex. I’ve heard a lot about the club’s rich history and can’t wait to play at Chelmsford. I look forward to meeting the Essex fans and contributing to the team’s success,” Khaleel said.
The 27-year-old last made his India appearance back in 2024, playing against Sri Lanka, where he went wicketless after three overs. He will now work closely with England’s former head coach Chris Silverwood, who is Essex’s Director of Cricket.
“We are really pleased to be bringing Khaleel into the Club,” Chris Silverwood, Director of Cricket, said.
“We were impressed with his performances for India A and firmly believe he can strengthen our already very strong seam attack.
“As a left-arm seamer, he offers something different and will add a new dynamic to the squad in both the One Day Cup and the County Championship.”