Khaleel Ahmed, the Indian left-arm seamer, is poised to make his county debut for Essex after returning to England following a stint with the India A squad. The 27-year-old's signing was officially announced by the county club on Saturday evening, and he is set to remain with Essex for the remainder of the season, participating in both the County Championship and the One-Day Cup.
Ahmed's debut is slated for today, June 29th, against Yorkshire in the County Championship. This follows his participation with the India A side against England Lions earlier in June, where he impressed by taking four wickets in England's first innings. His performance included dismissing notable players such as Jordan Cox, James Rew, Chris Woakes, and George Hill, ultimately finishing with figures of 4-70 from 19 overs.
Khaleel Ahmed has expressed his excitement about joining Essex, a club with a rich history. He is eager to make an immediate impact and is looking forward to playing at Chelmsford, connecting with the club's members and fans, and delivering strong performances. Chris Silverwood, Essex's Director of Cricket, voiced his confidence in Ahmed's ability, noting that his left-arm seam offers a unique dimension to their already robust seam attack, benefitting both the One Day Cup and the County Championship campaigns.
Ahmed brings international experience to Essex, having represented India in 11 ODIs and 18 T20Is. He debuted for India in 2018 and last played for the national team in a T20I series against Sri Lanka in July 2024. In total, he has claimed 15 wickets in the 50-over format on the international stage. In addition to his international experience, Ahmed has played 20 first-class games, securing 56 wickets. He was also a part of the India U19 team that reached the final of the U19 Cricket World Cup in 2016, alongside players like Ishan Kishan, Rishabh Pant, Sarfaraz Khan, and Washington Sundar.
Ahmed's addition is expected to provide a significant boost to Essex, who have had a challenging season with only one win in eight games. The club is currently just one place above relegation in the County Championship. Beyond the immediate match against Yorkshire, Khaleel is expected to return to the field on July 22nd against Sussex, followed by a match against Warwickshire starting on July 29th. Following these matches, he will participate in the One-Day Championship, with league matches scheduled from August 5th to 26th. Essex will begin their One Day Cup campaign on August 5 against Nottinghamshire. The One-Day Cup semi-finals are slated for August 31st, and the final is on September 20th. Khaleel is also expected to participate in three more red-ball matches starting September 8th, including one after the One-Day Cup final.
Before embarking on his county stint, Khaleel sought advice from veteran Indian cricketer Zaheer Khan, who encouraged him to play in England for an extended period to enhance his skills as a fast bowler by adapting to the different weather conditions and grounds.
Khaleel joins a list of Indian players who have previously represented Essex, including Harbhajan Singh, Gautam Gambhir, and Murali Vijay. His presence is anticipated to inject fresh energy into the team as they strive for improved results in both the County Championship and the One-Day Cup.
