India's Washington Sundar has joined Hampshire for their last two match of the 2025 Championship campaign, the English county side announced on Thursday, weeks after the all-rounder emerged as one of the breakout stars of the Test series against England.
Young India batter Tilak Varma has signed with Hampshire to play four matches in the ongoing Rothesay County Championship between June 22 and August 1.
Hampshire became the first county championship club to be owned by an overseas franchise.
Robin Smith established himself as a belligerent middle-order batter known for his ability against fast bowlers.
Indian multinational conglomerate Reliance Industries and Surrey County Cricket Club on Wednesday announced their partnership in The Hundred and expectedly renamed the franchise MI London.
Four-Test-old all-rounder Jacob Bethell was awarded his maiden central contract by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) which offered two-year deals to 14 multi-format cricketers, including Test captain Ben Stokes and injury-plagued pacer Jofra Archer.
Sonny Baker's dream moment turned into an absolute walking nightmare after he went at the top of an unwanted record
Surrey's Rahul Chahar will come up against fellow Indian all-rounder Washington Sundar, who plays for Hampshire, in the season-ending English county match.
If the deal comes to fruition, it will make Hampshire the first county side to be owned by an overseas franchise.
The 26-year-old Chahar scalped 8-51 in 24 overs to become the first bowler to pick eight wickets in an innings on debut for Surrey. The previous best was 7-61 by William Mudie vs the North at the Oval in 1859.
Tilak Varma is set to represent Hampshire in the County Championship after being approached by the English club
Tilak Varma begins County stint with sizzling century for Hampshire against Essex
The short turnaround time from the high of winning a controversy-marred Asia Cup notwithstanding, Shubman Gill's India will be outright favourites against a struggling and under-strength West Indies when the teams face-off on a green-top in the first Test in Ahmedabad on Thursday.
While GBP 50 million is earmarked for grassroots and recreational cricket, the 18 English county teams will get a share of GBP 470 million with larger pie allocated for those clubs that don't own a 'Hundred Franchise'.
'...I thought Test cricket was gone. To be back involved is really cool and I've got to try and enjoy each day that I get.'
Tilak Varma was in fine touch for Hampshire recently, smashing 100, 56, 47 and 112 in four innings for the English county side.
Left-arm spinner Liam Dawson returned to England Test set up after a gap of eight years, replacing injured Shoaib Bashir in the squad for the fourth Test against India.
India pacer Khaleel Ahmed on Saturday signed a deal with Essex to play for the remainder of the English County Championship and the entirety of the One-Day Cup.
Sykes, who has been contributing to cricket operations as a volunteer at Edgbaston for more than a decade, narrated his Dhoni moment to PTI.
Teenager Eddie Jack's call-up comes at a time when England's pace stocks are depleted with less than 10 days to go for the opening Test.
The sale of equity in the eight franchises of The Hundred is expected to raise approximately 520 million pounds, a part of which would be shared with the county clubs.
India will take on arch-rivals Pakistan in their opening match of ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026 at Edgbaston on June 14.
Pietersen gives thumbs up to IPL owners' investment in English teams
Hampshire chairman Rod Bransgrove believes Australia's loss will prove his club's gain after leg spinner Shane Warne decided to quit Test cricket.
England replace Shoaib Bashir with Liam Dawson in playing XI for 4th Test against India
Lord's to host Women's T20 World Cup final in 2026
Rahane, who had scored just 10 in the first innings, struck a patient 119 off 260 balls, hit 14 boundaries and shared a 257-run stand for the third wicket with Sam Northeast
India eye maiden women's T20I series win over England; hosts to miss injured skipper Brunt
The relations between India and Pakistan could be a potential spoiler if both the teams enter the final, but that is a situation which will be dealt with at that point of time.
The great Australian leg spinner said he is retiring from all first class cricket but will participate in the Indian Premier League with the Jaipur franchise as captain and coach. Warne, who took 708 wickets in 145 tests following his 1992 debut, was going to play for Hampshire again this season but the county club's chairman, Rod Bransgrove, said the two parties had mutually agreed to a parting of the ways.
The England Cricket Board has refrained from issuing NOCs to all-format players to play in the Pakistan Super League
Ajinkya Rahane has signed for Hampshire in the English County Championship. He will feature in matches throughout May, June and the start of July, subject to visa clearance. He becomes the first overseas player from India to sign for the county.
Former South Africa Test bowler Kyle Abbott registered the best figures in first-class cricket for 63 years, taking 17 wickets in Hampshire's County Championship victory over title-chasing Somerset on Wednesday.
Mumbai Indians, Kolkata Knight Riders, Rajasthan Royals, Sunrisers Hyderabad and Lucknow Super Giants are among the IPL franchises who have submitted bids.
Pakistan's sacked and retired captain Shahid Afridi suffered a setback on Wednesday when English county Hampshire said it would not be playing the all-rounder in their Twenty20 league after the Pakistan Cricket Board revoked the requisite NOC.
India and Kolkata Knight Riders all-rounder Venkatesh Iyer on Friday joined Lancashire for a short stint
The Pakistan Cricket Board has agreed to allow sacked One-day captain Shahid Afridi to play for English county side Hampshire after he agreed to withdraw his case against the PCB in the Sindh high court.
Hampshire has denied signing swashbuckling Pakistan all-rounder Shahid Afridi for the remaining part of the Friends Provident Twenty20 championship. 'Shahid won't be joining us,' Hampshire manager Giles White told BBC Radio. White said that his team is already packed, and it would be difficult to accommodate Afridi in the side for the quarter-final tie against Warwickshire.
London Spirit is the Lord's based team participating in England's domestic cricket tournament, The Hundred.
Sialkot Stallions will go back home with some pride as they beat Hampshire by six wickets in their inconsequential Pool 1 qualifying match of the Champions League Twenty20 tournament in Johannesburg.
© 2026 Rediff.com - Investor Information - Advertise with us - Disclaimer - Privacy Policy - Sitemap - Feedback - About us - Terms of use - Grievances