Indian left-arm pacer Khaleel Ahmed has joined English domestic team Essex for the County Championship and One Day Cup until the end of the 2025 season, the Essex Cricket Club announced on Saturday. “Essex Cricket are thrilled to announce the signing of Indian seamer Khaleel Ahmed until the end of the season. Born in Tonk, Rajasthan, Ahmed is a left-arm fast-medium bowler and right-handed batter and will be available to play for the Club until the conclusion of the 2025 season – available for both the Rothesay County Championship and the Metro Bank One Day Cup,” read the press release by Essex.
Ahmed is coming off an impressive Indian Premier League 2025 campaign for Chennai Super Kings. In CSK’s poor season, Ahmed was one of the few silver linings for the side, picking 15 wickets in the season. He was the highest wicket-taker among pacers for CSK and the second-highest after Afghan leggie Noor Ahmed. His 137 dot balls also put him third in the list of players with the most dots in IPL 2025.
Hear from our newest addition @imK_Ahmed13 🤩
🦅 #FlyLikeAnEagle pic.twitter.com/5ioBbfx67E
— Essex Cricket (@EssexCricket) June 28, 2025
The 27-year-old was part of the India A squad that faced the England Lions at the start of June, playing in the first game at Northampton. Ahmed took four wickets in the first innings from 19 overs, dismissing James Rew, George Hill, Chris Woakes, and Jordan Cox.
A product of India’s Under-19 squad for the 2016 World Cup, Ahmed has represented the senior Indian Men’s team on 29 occasions, which includes eleven ODIs and eighteen T20Is. Since making his ODI debut in 2018 against Hong Kong, Ahmed has taken 15 wickets in his 11 ODI appearances, at an average of 31.00 and an economy rate of 5.81, with best figures of 3-13.
Featuring for Rajasthan in India’s domestic List A structure, he has played 63 matches, taking 92 wickets at an average of 27.92, with best figures of 4-35.
Ahmed’s abilities are not limited to white-ball cricket; he has also represented Rajasthan in first-class cricket on 20 occasions. In Indian conditions, he has taken 56 red-ball wickets at a healthy average of 27.67, with best figures of 5-37.
On signing for the Club, Khaleel Ahmed said: “I am thrilled to sign for Essex. I have heard a lot about the rich history of the Club, and I’m excited to be part of it and will look to make an immediate impact. I’m looking forward to playing at Chelmsford, meeting the loyal Essex Members and fans, and delivering performances they can be proud of.”
On the signing of Khaleel Ahmed, Director of Cricket Chris Silverwood said: “We are really pleased to be bringing Khaleel into the Club. 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.”
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Khaleel Ahmed is set to wear the number 71 and will meet up with the squad in York to be available for selection against Yorkshire.
