Full Name: Syed Khaleel Khursheed Ahmed
Nickname: Khaleel
Date of Birth: December 5, 1997
Age: 27 years (as of April 2025)
Place of Birth: Tonk, Rajasthan, India
Nationality: Indian
Religion: Islam
Profession: Professional Cricketer
Batting Style: Right-handed
Bowling Style: Left-arm fast-medium
Role in Team: Bowler
Domestic Team: Rajasthan
IPL Teams: Sunrisers Hyderabad (2018–2021), Delhi Capitals (2022–2024), Chennai Super Kings (2025–present)
Jersey Number: #54
Height: 6’1″ (185 cm)
Weight: 80 kg (176 lbs)
Education: Graduate from Janardan Rai Nagar Rajasthan Vidyapeeth University, Udaipur
Early Life and Background
On December 5, 1997, Khaleel Ahmed was born into a humble household in the Rajasthani village of Tonk. Khursheed Ahmed was Khaleel’s father. He was a nurse and wanted Khaleel to become a doctor. Nonetheless, Khaleel’s love for cricket was apparent from an early age. He imitated the bowling techniques of his idols, Zaheer Khan and Irfan Pathan, by enrolling at a local cricket academy in Tonk at the age of 12 without telling his family.
Despite early resistance from his family, Khaleel’s dedication to the game allowed him to represent India at the Under-19 level, including the 2016 U-19 Cricket World Cup. His achievements at the juvenile level significantly set the way for his career in professional cricket.
Domestic Career
On February 5, 2017, Khaleel made his Twenty20 debut for Rajasthan in the 2016–17 Inter State Twenty-20 Tournament, marking the start of his domestic career. He made his List A debut in the 2017–18 Vijay Hazare Trophy on February 5, 2018, and his first-class debut in the 2017–18 Ranji Trophy on October 6, 2017.
Sunrisers Hyderabad purchased him for ₹3 crore in the 2018 IPL auction after his steady performances in domestic cricket attracted the interest of IPL teams. He has represented a number of teams throughout the years, notably the Chennai Super Kings in the IPL and Rajasthan in domestic cricket.
International Career
On September 18, 2018, during the Asia Cup, Khaleel Ahmed made his One Day International (ODI) debut for India, taking three wickets against Hong Kong. On November 4, 2018, at Eden Gardens, he played his first Twenty20 International (T20I) match against the West Indies.
Khaleel has participated in 18 T20Is, getting 16 wickets, and 11 ODIs, taking 15 wickets, as of April 2025. His ability to swing the ball and make significant breakthroughs has defined his international career.
IPL Career
In 2018, Khaleel joined Sunrisers Hyderabad to start his IPL career. In just nine games in 2019, he claimed 19 wickets, marking his breakout season. Later, from 2022 to 2024, he played for the Delhi Capitals, claiming 42 wickets in 33 games.
Khaleel’s skill as a left-arm bowler was recognised by the Chennai Super Kings, who paid ₹4.8 crore to acquire him in the 2025 IPL auction. He has participated in 64 IPL games as of April 2025, capturing 85 wickets and having a best bowling performance of 3/21.
Playing Style
Khaleel Ahmed is well-known for his left-arm fast-medium bowling, which is distinguished by his capacity to deliver at up to 148 km/h and swing the ball in both directions. He is a difficult bowler for batters because of his height, which enables him to extract bounce off the pitch.
He has earned a reputation as a death-over specialist who can produce vital overs under duress and is especially successful with the new ball. He is a great addition to any squad because of his aggressive style and enthusiasm on the pitch.
Personal Life
Khaleel Ahmed is grounded and cherishes his Tonk, Rajasthan, origins despite his growing celebrity. His family is close-knit, and at first, his father was apprehensive about his desire to play cricket. Many aspiring cricket players find inspiration in Khaleel’s journey from a tiny area to international cricket.
Khaleel likes to travel and spend time with his family when he’s not playing. He keeps his personal life under wraps, concentrating on his cricket career and personal growth.
Legacy & Impact
Khaleel Ahmed’s rise from a tiny Rajasthani hamlet to playing for India internationally is evidence of his talent and commitment. Many young cricket players, particularly left-arm pacers, have been motivated to follow their aspirations by his exploits.
Khaleel, who is renowned for his swing bowling and tenacity on the pitch, is set to have a significant impact in Indian cricket with his ongoing contributions to both local and international cricket.
