Surrey signs Sai Kishore for a two-match County Championship stint
Surrey signs Sai Kishore for a two-match County Championship stint
Left-arm spinner R Sai Kishore is all set to play county cricket, having signed with Surry for two matches in Division One of the County Championship. The 28-year-old will be available towards the end of July.
R Sai Kishore is set to begin a new chapter in his cricket career, as he joins Surrey to play two first-class matches in Division One of the County Championship later this July. This marks his debut in county cricket, a significant step for the 28-year-old left-arm fingerspinner who has built a strong reputation in Indian domestic and franchise circuits.
Sai Kishore’s first match will take place in Scarborough, where he may line up against his former Chennai Super Kings teammate Ruturaj Gaikwad, who is currently signed with Yorkshire. His second and final game of the stint will be against Durham in Chester-le-Street from July 29 to August 1.
Speaking about the move, Sai Kishore expressed genuine excitement. He called Surrey “one of the most prestigious clubs in the world” and shared his eagerness to experience the team’s well-regarded cricketing setup. Alec Stewart, Surrey’s high-performance advisor, backed the signing with strong words of praise, calling Sai Kishore “highly rated” and emphasising the spinner’s solid record and leadership qualities.
Though best known for his T20 exploits in recent months, Sai Kishore is no stranger to the longer format. He has racked up 192 wickets in 46 first-class matches at an impressive average of 23.51. He was also the standout bowler in the 2023–24 Ranji Trophy season, topping the charts with 53 wickets in just nine games. However, despite his success, he has recently found himself behind Manav Suthar and Harsh Dubey in the national selection race, with both earning India A call-ups. This brief spell with Surrey provides an important opportunity to reassert his red-ball credentials ahead of the 2025–26 domestic season.
Sai Kishore’s county call-up follows a busy and successful T20 run. He played 15 matches for Gujarat Titans in IPL 2025, taking 19 wickets and finishing as the second-best spinner by dismissals. Just days before his Surrey signing, he led his team to their maiden Tamil Nadu Premier League title. Daniel Vettori, head coach of Sunrisers Hyderabad, recently lauded his courage and craft with the ball, pointing to his ability to change pace and angles with finesse even on batting-friendly pitches.
Importantly, Sai Kishore isn’t unfamiliar with English conditions. In 2022, he was a reserve player for India’s tour and bowled against the national side in a warm-up match, where he dismissed Cheteshwar Pujara. After his short county stint, he is expected to return to Tamil Nadu’s squad for the Buchi Babu tournament as prep for the Ranji Trophy, continuing his leadership role that has steered the team to the knockout stages in the last two seasons.
Surrey, fresh off three consecutive County Championship titles, are aiming for a fourth. Sai Kishore’s close friend and former teammate, B Sai Sudharsan was a key figure in Surrey’s recent successes. Now, with the chance to showcase his skills on English soil and build his case for national red-ball recognition, Sai Kishore’s brief county adventure could prove pivotal in the next phase of his career.