Khaleel Ahmed joins Essex until end of 2025 season

Indian left-arm pacer Khaleel Ahmed has signed with Essex County Cricket Club and will be available across formats until the conclusion of the 2025 season. The 27-year-old will represent the club in both the County Championship and the One Day Cup.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!A graduate of India’s Under-19 World Cup squad in 2016, Ahmed has played 29 international matches for India, including 11 ODIs and 18 T20Is. Since debuting in ODIs against Hong Kong in 2018, he has taken 15 wickets at an average of 31.00, with best figures of 3 for 13.On the domestic front, Ahmed has been a key performer for Rajasthan. He has picked up 92 wickets in 63 List A matches at an average of 27.92. In red-ball cricket, he has 56 wickets in 20 first-class games, including a five-wicket haul.Earlier this month, Ahmed was part of the India A squad that played against the England Lions in Northampton. He impressed with figures of 4 for 52 in the first innings, dismissing senior England players including Chris Woakes and James Rew.Reacting to his new stint, Ahmed said, “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.”Essex Director of Cricket Chris Silverwood praised the signing, stating, “Khaleel impressed for India A. His left-arm angle adds variety and will enhance our already strong seam attack.”