The stage was set for a thrilling showdown at Northampton’s County Ground, where India A took on England Lions in an unofficial Test match. On the third day, a young Indian paceman stole the show with hisscintillating performance. Khaleel Ahmed left the English batsmen reeling, claiming four crucial wickets and putting the hosts on the back foot.
Khaleel’s divine spell began in the 51st over when he dismissed Jordan Cox, caught by wicketkeeper Dhruv Jurel. He continued to wreak havoc in the 55th over, snaring James Reu and George Hill in consecutive deliveries. Although he missed out on a hat-trick, Khaleel remained unfazed, eventually claiming his fourth wicket by dismissing Chris Woakes in the 57th over.
This exceptional display comes on the heels of Khaleel’s notable appearance in the 2025 IPL, where he donned the Chennai Super Kings jersey. Notably, he was involved in a heated exchange with Virat Kohli during a match between CSK and RCB. The heated moment arose when Khaleel prematurely celebrated Kohli’s dismissal, only to be rebuked by the Indian captain. Their on-field rivalry continued in a subsequent match, with Kohli hitting two consecutive sixes off Khaleel’s over.
Despite his outstanding form, Khaleel was surprisingly omitted from India’s Test squad for the upcoming England series. The selectors opted for Arshdeep Singh as the sole left-arm pacer. However, Khaleel’s impressive performance against England Lions has sent a strong message to the selectors, reaffirming his credentials as a contender for a spot in the Indian team. Will this stellar display be enough to earn him a recall? Only time will tell.