India left-arm pacer Khaleel Ahmed has signed a full-season contract with Essex County Cricket Club, marking his official entry into the English domestic circuit. The 26-year-old will be available for both red-ball and one-day formats, committing to the entire 2025 season. He is set to make his debut for Essex in the County Championship fixture against Yorkshire from June 29 to July 2.
Khaleel, who recently featured for Chennai Super Kings in IPL 2025, joins Essex following a spell with the India A squad earlier this year. Despite being overlooked for the ongoing five-Test series against England, the left-armer remains in the red-ball radar. His inclusion in the India A side earlier this season is seen as an indicator of selectors keeping him under watch for future long-format opportunities. Though uncapped in Tests, Khaleel has represented India in 11 ODIs and 12 T20Is since his debut in the 2018 Asia Cup. He last featured for the national side during the 2024 Sri Lanka tour and travelled as a reserve for the T20 World Cup later that year.
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Essex Schedule Confirmed, Khaleel to Play Across Formats Until September
Khaleel Ahmed’s signing echoes a move once made by Gautam Gambhir, who also turned to Essex in pursuit of a national comeback. While Gambhir now leads the Indian team as head coach, the parallels are unavoidable. Whether by coincidence or calculation, Essex once again offers a stage for an Indian cricketer to push red-ball credentials.