After some underwhelming weeks, Ruturaj Gaikwad signed his first county cricket contract, and he is set to play his maiden County Championship with Yorkshire after bagging the deal. The Indian batter who has lots of runs in Indian domestic cricket will try his fortune in England. The 28-year-old batter is now in England with the India A team ahead of the 5-match Test series, which will be the first Test assignment for Team India under a new World Test Championship (WTC) circle.

Gaikwad is unlikely to get any chances in the series, as he was out of the unofficial matches against England Lions too. Gaikwad will join Yorkshire ahead of their Championship fixture against Surrey next month and will remain with the team for the rest of the season, including during the One-Day Cup. 

"I'm excited to be joining up with Yorkshire for the rest of the English domestic season. It has always been a goal of mine to experience cricket in this country, and there is no bigger club in England than Yorkshire. I know how important it is that I hit the ground running at what will be a crucial part of the season," Gaikwad said after confirming the county cricket deal. 

Read More: [WATCH] ENG vs IND 2025: Rishabh Pant breaks Kent County stadium roof with monstrous six

Though Yorkshire's love for Indian cricketers is not new for the cricket world. In the past, legends like Sachin Tendulkar and Yuvraj Singh also played for the club in England. 

The right-handed batter so far has played a total of 29 matches for India across ODIs and T20Is. But his career graph has yet to justify the talent he carries. In 6 One Day International matches, the Maharashtra-born cricketer has scored only 115 runs and 633 runs in 23 T20Is for team India, including an unbeaten 123-run innings against Australia in Guwahati. He last played for India in July 2024. 

List of Indian players joined Yorkshire:

1) Sachin Tendulkar.

2) Yuvraj Singh.

3) Cheteshwar Pujara.

4) Ruturaj Gaikwad.

India’s Ruturaj Gaikwad has signed with Yorkshire County Cricket Club for the second half of the 2025 English domestic season. The 28-year-old, who captains Chennai Super Kings in the IPL and Maharashtra in Indian domestic cricket, will join Yorkshire ahead of their County Championship match against Surrey at Scarborough on July 22 and remain available through the end of the season. He will also feature in the Metro Bank One-Day Cup.

Currently touring England with India A, Gaikwad brings a solid track record across formats. In first-class cricket, he averages 41.77 with seven centuries, while his List A record is even more impressive, averaging 56.15 with 16 hundreds. His ability to adapt across formats and bat anywhere in the top four makes him a versatile addition to Yorkshire’s setup.

“I’m excited to be joining up with Yorkshire for the rest of the English domestic season,” said Gaikwad. “It has always been a goal of mine to experience county cricket, and there’s no bigger club in England than Yorkshire. We’ve got some crucial matches coming up, and I hope to contribute strongly to our campaign.”

ALSO SEE: Rohit Sharma to miss 2027 World Cup? Captaincy twist sparks speculation

Indian Opener Set to Boost Yorkshire’s Batting Line-Up in Championship and One-Day Cup Return

This signing comes after Gaikwad missed the latter half of IPL 2025 due to an elbow injury, making his return to competitive cricket even more anticipated. Yorkshire’s head coach, Anthony McGrath, praised the move: “Ruturaj is a highly accomplished cricketer with a game well-suited to the style we want to play. His presence will bring added strength to our batting and the ability to accelerate when needed.”

General Manager Gavin Hamilton added: “Gaikwad’s consistency across formats and leadership experience will greatly enhance our squad. We’re delighted to welcome him.” Yorkshire fans will be eager to see the stylish right-hander in action as he aims to make an immediate impact in the County Championship and help the White Rose push for silverware in the One-Day Cup.

County Championship 2025

Essex: 206 and 163/4 (52.3 Overs)

Somerset: 145/10

Essex lead by 224 runs

The season of summer is approaching England. Under a clear blue sky, carpets like soft green grass fields; an ideal day for cricket. 

County championship is underway in England; teams packed with international and underrated talents are showing their skills. When the cover was removed from County Ground's 22-yard surface, bowlers, especially field-first teams' pacers, were pumped after seeing a green top wicket. The wicket is looking so green from the stand that it is difficult to differentiate the pitch and the outfield— a heavenly view for pace bowlers.

The Somerset vs. Essex County Championship match is underway in Taunton, on the green topsoil. As the match progressed, spinners, along with pacers, also started to get help from the wicket. So batters mostly had to hold on to copybook basics and their techniques.

Essex is leading the race

Batted first, Essex managed to score 206, a good total considering the condition. 20-year-old all-rounder Noah Thain was the leading run scorer with 41 against 112 balls. Experienced spinner Jack Leach proved most effective for Somerset in the first innings with 3 scalps after bowling 30 overs, with an economy rate of 1.17.

Watch the green top wicket here

The pitch for Somerset Vs Essex match. pic.twitter.com/ey2p0bA6nD

— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) May 4, 2025

Somerset, when out for batting, was mostly troubled by the off-break bowler Simon Harmer, who took 4 wickets. Sam Cook, recently named to the England Test side, claimed a brace. At the end of day 2, Essex, in a commanding position, escalated their lead by 224 runs. Jordan Cox, another Essex player with Cook, has made his way into the Test squad and remained on the pitch for an unbeaten 61. 

India's star pacer Shardul Thakur is representing Mumbai in the Ranji Trophy. The top player has not been provided with a spot in the Indian team for the Champions Trophy. Shardul is, however, set to represent the Essex team in the County Championship soon. Shardul's return can be useful for him to regain a spot in the Indian team.

🚨 SHARDUL THAKUR TO COUNTY CRICKET 🚨

- Essex is set to sign Shardul Thakur for this county season. [Nisarg Naik]

Huge boost for him ahead of the England Test series. pic.twitter.com/czMp7r7On4

— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) February 18, 2025

Shardul Thakur Representation to India :
Shardul Thakur was the last of them when he represented India in Tests and ODIs in 2023. But he didn't perform well. He wasn't included in the Indian squad for being out of form. But Shardul also played for India in ICC tournaments during 2023. Shardul was part of the Indian team in World Test Championship 2023 and ODI World Cup 2023. It is tough now to think of his return to the Indian team. He is playing for Mumbai in domestic cricket now. Shardul is also playing in the current semi-final match being conducted against Vidarbha on behalf of Mumbai.

ALSO SEE :  Harbhajan Singh sighs huge warning To Be Aware Of This Pakistani Player Ahead Before Their Mega Clash

Performance in Ranji Trophy :
Shardul has played his best ever in the Ranji Trophy match for Mumbai. Speaking about the last 3 matches, he has stunned everyone with bat and ball. He has picked 19 wickets in the last 3 matches, besides this, while batting in the last 3 matches, he has made 2 half-centuries besides 1 century. But by featuring in the County Championship, he will be in a position to market himself for a return to the Indian Test team since the Indian team will travel to England to play a 5-match Test series following IPL 2025. In the event that Shardul performs exceptional cricket in the County Championship overseas, then he could get noticed by the Indian selectors.

Career of Shardul Thakur:

Indian leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal is in great form with the red ball in English County cricket as he recorded another fifer in the second consecutive first-class match. 

Currently, Yuzvendra Chahal’s Northamptonshire are busy playing against Leicestershire in the County Championship Division Two. After picking up four wickets in the first innings of the match, Chahal took five more wickets in the next innings. 

SEE ALSO: Ravichandran Ashwin reaches new height with Chennai Test century

Yuzvendra Chahal secured another fifer; and nine wickets in the match

Visitors Leicestershire started their second innings by trailing 180 runs. Once again, the Indian leg-spinner Chahal dominated with the ball as he completed that innings with the bowling figures of 43-5-134-5. As a result, Leicestershire were all out for 316 runs and set a 137-run target for Northamptonshire. 

In their second innings, Leicestershire were once struggling at 92/7, where Chahal bagged four wickets. However, desperate Scott Currie then produced two 100+ partnerships for the next wickets to disturb the hosts. After his 101-run partnership for the eighth wicket with Tom Scriven, Currie also set up another 110-run partnership for the ninth wicket with Sam Wood.

While Currie was dominating with 120 runs, Chahal dismissed him to complete his fifer. Scriven scored 48 runs, and Wood was not out on 57 runs. 

The latest fifer was Chahal’s fourth fifer in his first-class career. He ended the match against Leicestershire with nine wickets for 216 runs.

Chahal recorded the best bowling figures in a match in last game

During Northamptonshire’s previous match against Derbyshire, Chahal recorded his first nine-wicket haul in a first-class match as he finished that game with nine wickets for 99 runs. After recording five for 45 runs, Chahal picked up another four wickets in the fourth innings after conceding 54 runs. His bowling performance played a crucial role in his team’s victory by 133 runs. It was Northamptonshire’s first win in the ongoing County Championship Division Two season. 

As Chahal is in great form, we won’t be surprised if the 34-year-old Indian leg-spinner makes his Test debut soon.

The 34-year-old Indian leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal is in great form in the English county cricket. The leg-spinner secured his third successive four or more wickets for Northamptonshire in the match against Leicestershire. 

On Tuesday (September 17), Northamptonshire started their last home fixture in the ongoing English County Championship Division Two against Leicestershire. 

SEE ALSO: ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2024: ICC announces record prize money

Yuzvendra Chahal took four wickets

After Leicestershire chose to bat first, they were bowled out for 203 runs, where Northamptonshire’s leggie Yuzvendra Chahal picked up four wickets. Chahal finished the innings with the bowling figures 23-6-82-4. Chahal took the wickets of Ian Holland (12), Rehan Ahmed (30), Ben Cox (25), and Scott Curie (0).

Chahal bowled Holland and Cox, while Rehan was caught out, and Curie was trapped for a lbw. 

While Chahal was the best bowler for his team, off-spinner Rob Keogh also provided solid support with his three wickets (3/20). Meanwhile, the pacers Jack White (2/16) and Ben Sanderson (1/32) also picked up wickets in that innings.

Among Leicestershire batters, opener Sol Budinger (56) scored a half-century, while captain Lewis Hill (32), Rehan Ahmed (30), Ben Cox (25), and Liam Trevaskis (25*) provided some battles. 

Yuzvendra Chahal is in great form

Chahal is currently in great form with the ball. He started the ongoing English domestic cricket campaign for Northamptonshire with a fifer in a List A match (5/14).

In their previous County Championship match against Derbyshire, Chahal played a key role in Northamptonshire’s first win this season in the County Championship Division Two. After claiming his third first-class fifer (5/45), Chahal picked up another four wickets in the fourth innings of the match (4/54). His nine wickets for 99 runs in the previous game were his best bowling figures record in a first-class match.

As Chahal is in great form, it can help him to earn a call-up in the national team for Test cricket. India’s leading T20I wicket-taker (96 wickets in 80 T20Is), Chahal, who has also picked up 121 wickets in 72 ODIs, is still waiting for his Test debut.  

The 34-year-old Indian leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal produced his best bowling figures in a first-class match during his team Northamptonshire’s 133-run win against Derbyshire in the English County Championship Division Two 2024. 

Yuzvendra Chahal already created a headline in India with his fifer during Derbyshire’s first innings. Later, Chahal bagged another four wickets in the fourth innings of the match on rain-curtailed Wednesday.

Watch: Chahal shines with 5-wicket haul for Northamptonshire in County Championship

Yuzvendra Chahal recorded 4/54 during the fourth innings

With the bat, Chahal was unbeaten for no score in both innings of the match. In the fourth innings of the match, Chahal shone with the bowling figures of 18-3-54-4. He and his off-spin bowling partner Rob Keogh (15-1-44-5) destroyed the batting line-up in the final innings of the match. 

While the last-placed team in the points table Derbyshire (107 points in 12 matches) had the fourth innings target of 266 runs, they were bundled out for only 132 runs. Only the unbeaten batter Wayne Madsen (48) reached the 20-run mark in that innings. 

Seventh-placed Northamptonshire (114 points in 12 matches), who are just above the last-placed Derbyshire in the points table, recorded their first win of this County Championship season with this 133-run win.  

Yuzvendra Chahal closely missed out his 1st first-class 10-wicket haul

After his fifer in Derbyshire’s first innings of the match, where he ended with the bowling figures of 16.3-2-45-5, the leg-spinner Chahal ended the fourth innings with 18-3-54-4. He ended the game with the bowling figures of 34.3-5-99-9. It was his best bowling figures in a first-class match. His previous best bowling figures in a first-class match was 8/112. 

SEE ALSO: Yuzvendra Chahal starts English domestic season with a fifer 

Chahal has taken 106 wickets in his 38 first-class matches. During Derbyshire’s first innings, Chahal completed his 100 first-class wickets with his third wicket of that innings. 

Chahal hasn’t played a match for the Indian national cricket team this year. Although the leg-spinner was selected for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 in the West Indies and United States, he wasn’t selected in any playing XIs.  

After his 72 ODIs and 80 T20Is, Chahal has taken 121 and 96 wickets, respectively. The leading IPL wicket-taker is also holding the record for most T20I wickets for India.  

Leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal continued to impress in the United Kingdom with a standout performance for Northamptonshire. In the ongoing County Championship season, Chahal claimed his first five-wicket haul, playing a pivotal role in his team’s match against Derbyshire at the County Ground in Northampton. This achievement marks Chahal’s third five-wicket haul in first-class cricket, underscoring his growing prowess with the red ball in England.

Chahal’s match-winning performance

Yuzvendra Chahal finished with remarkable figures of 5 for 45, delivering a crucial spell of bowling that helped Northamptonshire secure a 54-run lead in the first innings. Chahal received significant support from off-spinner Rob Keogh, as the duo dismantled Derbyshire’s batting lineup. At one point, Derbyshire seemed in control at 150 for 4 on Day 2, but they collapsed dramatically, losing their last six wickets for just 15 runs. Chahal’s spell was instrumental in this turnaround, as he claimed the vital wicket of Wayne Madsen, who was well set at 47, by spinning the ball sharply to hit the top of the off-stump twice.

61 | Lunch. 🍽️

Seven wickets in the session and some excellent spells from Chahal and Keogh. 🌀

We're just going to watch this on repeat during the interval. 🔁

Derbyshire 165/8. pic.twitter.com/G4Y1VUHVjL

— Northamptonshire CCC (@NorthantsCCC) September 10, 2024

See Also: Why Muralitharan believes his 800 Test wickets record unbreakable

A valuable addition to Northamptonshire

Chahal’s performance has been a major boost for Northamptonshire during the English summer. His five-wicket haul in the County Championship follows a similar feat in the One-Day Cup match he played against his former club, Kent, on August 14. Despite a modest start with just one wicket in his first two County Championship Division Two matches, Chahal is now poised to build on this impressive performance. He has signed on to play a total of five first-class matches this season for Northamptonshire, and his recent success indicates a promising continuation of his impactful stint in English cricket.

Indian all-rounder Venkatesh Iyer has joined Lancashire County Cricket Club for the next five weeks. Known for his standout performance with the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in their IPL 2024 title win, he will participate in the Metro Bank One-Day Cup and the final two rounds of the Vitality County Championship in late August.

Lancashire County Cricket Club confirmed his signing in a statement on Friday. Venkatesh, the energetic Madhya Pradesh all-rounder, is excited about this chance and aims to make a strong comeback to the Indian national team.

Venkatesh’s excitement about county cricket debut

“I am incredibly excited about heading over to England and to have the opportunity to play county cricket for the first time in my career. Lancashire is a very historic county with a long history of welcoming Indian players to their club. I am looking forward to emulating the likes of Farokh Engineer, Sourav Ganguly, VVS Laxman, and most recently, Washington Sundar in wearing the Red Rose colours at Emirates Old Trafford,” Venkatesh stated.

“To test my skills in both one-day and first-class cricket in English conditions is going to really benefit my game. I hope that I can entertain the fans and help my Lancashire teammates to achieve their targets in both formats this summer.”, He added.

Mark Chilton, Lancashire’s Director of Cricket Performance, is thrilled about the new addition. “Venkatesh will add experience to a young side during the One-Day Cup, whilst providing an explosive batting option in the middle-order and another seam bowler that we can turn to with the ball,” Chilton said. He confirmed that Venkatesh will play in the County games against Surrey and Hampshire.

Venkatesh’s plans to return for Duleep Trophy

Media reports suggest that Venkatesh has not agreed to a long term contract, as he wants to return to India in time for the Duleep Trophy, which starts on September 5. He plans to use this domestic tournament to re enter the Indian national team setup.

The four squads for the Duleep Trophy will be chosen after India’s tour to Zimbabwe. Venkatesh’s performances for Lancashire will be closely watched by selectors as they finalize the teams for this prestigious domestic competition.