Khaleel Ahmed Ends Essex Contract Early

Indian left-arm pacer Khaleel Ahmed has ended his stint with Essex early, returning to India due to personal reasons after playing just two County Championship matches and taking four wickets at an average of 64.50. He was originally expected to stay with Essex until the end of the 2025 season, participating in both the County Championship and the One Day Cup. Essex expressed disappointment at his early departure but supported his decision and thanked him for his contributions. Ahmed's early exit follows a similar recent withdrawal by Ruturaj Gaikwad from Yorkshire, also for personal reasons. Despite strong performances for India A before joining Essex, Ahmed's overseas experience was brief. He is now likely to be available for India's domestic competitions, including the upcoming Duleep Trophy.