Another CSK Star Quits County Midway — What’s Behind This Mysterious Trend?
Another Chennai Super Kings (CSK) player has abruptly cut short his County cricket stint, raising eyebrows across the cricketing world. After Ruturaj Gaikwad opted out of his contract with Yorkshire earlier this season, now left-arm pacer Khaleel Ahmed has joined the list of Indian stars pulling out mid-way — this time from Essex County Cricket Club.
Khaleel had signed a promising two-month deal with Essex, expected to play at least six First-Class matches and ten List-A games. But that plan came to an unexpected halt after just two red-ball games. While the club expressed disappointment, they made it clear that the decision was mutual.
“While we are disappointed to see him leave, we fully support Khaleel’s decision and are grateful for the contributions he made during his time with us,” Essex said in a statement on Monday (July 28), as quoted by ESPNcricinfo.
The reason for his early exit hasn’t been officially revealed, but many believe it could be due to a combination of personal commitments and upcoming domestic cricket duties. With the Inter-Zonal Duleep Trophy around the corner (starting August 28), Khaleel is reportedly back in Rajasthan to prepare for the tournament.
The 27-year-old earned the county deal after an impressive showing for India A against the England Lions, where he bowled with pace, rhythm, and sharpness. His departure now sparks conversation about whether Indian players are finding it challenging to juggle county cricket alongside their hectic domestic and international schedules.
This incident also adds to a growing trend. Ruturaj Gaikwad, a consistent performer for CSK, had earlier pulled out of his Yorkshire stint before even bowling a ball. That makes two players from the same IPL franchise backing out of county responsibilities in the same season — a coincidence that’s hard to ignore.
Is it a case of workload management? Are players prioritizing domestic tournaments like the Duleep Trophy and Syed Mushtaq Ali over overseas red-ball exposure? Or is the lure of IPL and India A assignments too strong to commit fully to English county cricket?
Whatever the reason, it raises questions for both Indian cricket authorities and county clubs looking to bring in talent from the subcontinent. For now, Khaleel’s brief appearance in England is history, and all eyes will shift to his performance in Indian domestic cricket as he aims to break into the national squad once again.
One thing’s for sure — fans and selectors alike will be watching closely.
