IND-A vs SA-A Review | South Africa A in commanding position with lead at end of day 2
South Africa were in a commanding position with a lead of 105 runs at the time of stumps on Day 2 of the first unofficial Test of the ongoing two-match unofficial Test series. India A’s middle-order failed to perform big and they failed to get the first-innings lead at the end of day 2.
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International career
Khaleel Ahmed was born on 5 December 1997 in Tonk, Rajasthan. He got his first call-up to the Indian national team in September 2018. His left-arm pace gave him an edge, and he soon became part of India’s limited-overs squads. In the same year, he was included in the team that won the Asia Cup. He played in both ODI and T20I matches, often used as a supporting bowler. His early performances showed promise, although competition for pace spots remained high.
Before reaching the senior team, Khaleel played in junior-level cricket for Rajasthan. He joined the under-16 and then the under-19 state sides. His game improved under Rahul Dravid, who guided many young cricketers during that time. In the 2015 U-19 Tri-Nation tournament, Khaleel took 12 wickets in just three matches. That strong run helped him earn a place in India’s squad for the 2016 Under-19 World Cup. He played six games in the tournament but managed only three wickets. India reached the final but lost to the West Indies.
2018
- Made his ODI debut on September 18 against Hong Kong in the Asia Cup in Dubai.
- Took three wickets for 48 runs in his debut match.
- Played two matches in the Asia Cup. India won the tournament.
- Took his best ODI figures of 3/13 against the West Indies later that year.
- Made his T20I debut on November 4 against the West Indies at Eden Gardens.
- Took the wicket of Fabian Allen in his debut T20I match.
2019
- Played his last ODI on August 14 against the West Indies at Port of Spain.
- Did not feature in ODIs after the West Indies tour.
- Faced competition from other bowlers and had issues with consistency.
2020–2023
- Not selected for the Indian team during this period.
- Continued to play in the IPL and domestic cricket.
2024
- Performed well in IPL 2024, which helped him return to the national radar.
- Picked as a traveling reserve for the T20 World Cup 2024.
- Later joined the squad for the Zimbabwe tour in July.
- Played 3 T20Is, took three wickets, and had an economy rate of 6.81.
- Played against Sri Lanka on July 30, his most recent T20I.
Leagues Participation
Khaleel Ahmed has been part of the Indian Premier League since 2016, though his real impact came a few years later. He has played for multiple franchises, gradually building a reputation as a consistent left-arm pacer.
Indian Premier League
Khaleel joined the IPL soon after his U-19 World Cup appearance in 2016, when Delhi Daredevils picked him up. However, he had to wait until 2018 to make his debut after moving to Sunrisers Hyderabad.
He had a breakthrough season in 2019, followed by quieter years. A return to the Delhi Capitals in 2022 gave him a fresh chance, and he responded with strong performances. In 2025, he moved to the Chennai Super Kings after a good run in the previous season.
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Year
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Team
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Notes
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2016
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Delhi Daredevils
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Bought for INR 10 lakhs; did not play any matches
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2017
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Delhi Daredevils
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Retained; remained unused
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2018
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Sunrisers Hyderabad
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Bought for INR 3 crores; made debut vs KKR in Qualifier 2
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2019
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Sunrisers Hyderabad
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Took 19 wickets in 9 matches; standout season
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2020
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Sunrisers Hyderabad
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Limited impact; few matches
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2021
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Sunrisers Hyderabad
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Struggled with form; released ahead of 2022
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2022
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Delhi Capitals
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Bought for INR 5.25 crores; took 16 wickets in 10 matches
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2023
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Delhi Capitals
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Played fewer matches; still among top bowlers
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2024
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Delhi Capitals
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Took 17 wickets in 14 games; second-highest wicket-taker for the team
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2025
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Chennai Super Kings
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Bought for INR 4.8 crores; joined ahead of IPL 2025
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Domestic career
Khaleel Ahmed began his domestic journey with Rajasthan, playing his first T20 match in February 2017 during the Inter-State Twenty-20 Tournament. He made his first-class debut later that year in the Ranji Trophy against Jammu & Kashmir, where he picked up two wickets. His List A debut followed in early 2018 in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, facing Andhra Pradesh.
Over the years, Khaleel remained a key figure in Rajasthan's bowling attack across formats. In the 2024/25 Ranji season, he picked up nine wickets in two notable matches—4 against Railways and five against Vidarbha. His consistency earned him a spot as a reserve player for the 2024/25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy, stepping in for the injured Yash Dayal.
In June 2025, he moved abroad for a brief stint with Essex in English county cricket. He joined as an overseas player for the final three months of the season and made his first-class debut against Sussex at Hove.
Records and achievements
Khaleel Ahmed has achieved several critical milestones in his cricket journey. From youth cricket to the IPL and national team, he has had some standout years worth noting.
- 2016: Played in the ICC Under-19 World Cup as part of India’s squad that finished second after losing to West Indies in the final
- 2018: Won the Asia Cup with India and took three wickets on his ODI debut against Hong Kong
- 2018: Made his IPL debut for Sunrisers Hyderabad in the Qualifier 2 match against Kolkata
- 2019: Finished as the leading wicket-taker for Sunrisers Hyderabad in IPL 2019 with 19 wickets from 9 games
- 2022: Took 16 wickets for Delhi Capitals and ended the season as the second-best bowler for the team after Kuldeep Yadav
- 2023: Reached 50 IPL wickets in just 35 matches and became the fastest Indian bowler to do so
- 2023: Became the fourth-fastest bowler overall to reach 50 IPL wickets after Rabada, Narine, and Malinga
- 2024: Joined India’s T20 World Cup squad first as a reserve, later playing matches during the tournament
- 2024: Took 17 wickets in 14 matches for Delhi Capitals and was again the second-highest wicket-taker for the team after Mukesh Kumar
Personal life
Khaleel Ahmed comes from a small town in Rajasthan and has worked his way up through domestic and international cricket. While his public image is primarily quiet, a few moments from his personal and professional life have drawn attention.
Family
Khaleel was born into a modest family in Tonk, Rajasthan. His father, Khurshid Ahmed, worked as a nurse, and his mother, Adla Khatun, managed the household. He has three older sisters and is the youngest child in the family. In the beginning, his parents were not supportive of his cricket career and wanted him to study medicine. That changed once he started performing well at the state level.
Finances
As of 2024, Khaleel Ahmed’s net worth is estimated to be around INR 15 crores. His income comes from domestic cricket, the Indian Premier League, brand associations, and national team contracts.
Cars and House
Khaleel lives in his hometown, Tonk, Rajasthan, where he spends most of his off-season time. Information about specific cars or luxury property is not widely available, and he tends to stay out of the limelight when it comes to material possessions.
Scandal
In 2018, during the fourth ODI between India and the West Indies, Khaleel received a warning and a penalty point for his reaction after dismissing Marlon Samuels. The incident happened in the 14th over when he aggressively approached the batsman after the dismissal. The match referee stated that his actions violated Article 2.5 of the ICC Code of Conduct. Khaleel accepted the decision and admitted his mistake.
Fans
Khaleel has built a substantial online following, especially on Instagram, where he has over 1.1 million followers. His fans often praise his passion and commitment, and he stays active on social media by sharing match moments and training updates.