Gloucestershire have secured the services of Indian international left-arm spinner Sai Kishore for the last six matches of the 2026 County Championship season. Standing tall at 6ft 3in, Kishore will make his debut for Gloucestershire in their Championship clash against Worcestershire at Cheltenham, starting Thursday, August 20.
Following this, Gloucestershire will host Derbyshire and Middlesex in Bristol, before traveling to face Durham, Lancashire, and Kent.
Reflecting on his move, Kishore expressed his gratitude: “I am deeply grateful to Jon Lewis and everyone at Gloucestershire for this opportunity. The club has a rich history and a fantastic environment, making it an exciting prospect to play here. I’ve always wanted to test my skills in English conditions, and after discussions with the management, I knew this was the right fit. I look forward to wearing the jersey and connecting with the fans in Bristol and Cheltenham.”
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Jon Lewis, Gloucestershire’s director of cricket, shared his enthusiasm: “We’re thrilled to welcome Sai to the squad. He brings significant experience and talent that will strengthen our team. We are eager to improve our performance in the final six games, and an overseas spinner like Sai can make a notable impact, especially as conditions at this time of year often favor spin bowling.”
Kishore is no stranger to high-level cricket. Representing Tamil Nadu in the Ranji Trophy, he has claimed 223 wickets across 54 first-class matches over nine years, boasting multiple four and five-wicket hauls. In 2025, he impressed during a stint with Surrey in the County Championship, notably claiming his maiden five-wicket haul in an away win against Durham, with his first championship wicket being former England Test player Jonny Bairstow.
Kishore is also an established figure in the Indian Premier League, with 33 wickets in 28 appearances, including a standout 4-33 performance against Punjab Kings in 2024.
His international achievements include playing a pivotal role in India’s gold medal victory at the 2022 Asian Games in Hangzhou, where his three wickets in the semi-final helped secure a spot in the final.
In related news, Sky Sports has announced that Gloucestershire’s upcoming Vitality Blast match against Glamorgan on Sunday will not be televised live. The game kicks off at 2:30pm at the Seat Unique Stadium. Gloucestershire currently sit second in the Central & West Group with 24 points, behind Yorkshire who have 26 points in the North Group. Glamorgan, fifth in the South Group, remain in contention for qualification, trailing Gloucestershire and Worcestershire by four points. Both sides have crucial away fixtures on Friday before their Sunday showdown: Glamorgan visits Warwickshire, and Gloucestershire travels to Worcestershire. These matches will be pivotal in determining which teams progress from the group stage.