Fox In Focus | Rehan Ahmed

One of the most highly rated teenagers in cricket, few players have experienced a rise as remarkable as Rehan Ahmed. Right from being tipped as a future star by fellow leggie Shane Warne at the age of 13, the Academy graduate’s path to stardom seemed set in stone.

After breaking a host of Club and England records since his debut as a 16-year-old, he is now a key component in Leicestershire’s setup, with the spinner’s return to the First Team this week a pivotal turning point in the Foxes’ bid to qualify for the quarter-final stages of the Vitality Blast.

PLAY STYLE:

A fearless competitor displaying maturity beyond his years, Rehan rarely flinches even against the world’s biggest stars.

With the bat, he aims to take down whoever he faces at a blistering pace. There is no compromise. As well as clearing the boundaries with brute force, the big-hitting right-hander loves to improvise “ often deploying late uppercuts or delicate ramps to make him the ultimate 360-degree player.

Rehan’s googly is one of the most devastating deliveries in cricket. Capable of bamboozling the best, the 19-year-old uses the googly as his stock delivery before switching it up with the leg spinner “ an unorthodox approach to deploying his variations.

STATS BOOK:

Rehan’s spin has been crucial to the Foxes in the middle phases of innings, picking up 52 T20 wickets at an average of 27.8. Significantly, his economy rate is just 7.9 “ showing his ability to apply the brakes to opposition scoring rates.

The leggie boasts a best of 4/22 “ taken against Durham at Chester le-Street in 2022, including two clean bowleds with his trademark googlies.

With the blade, he has 333 runs striking at a touch under 120, bested by 49 against Friday’s opponents Northants “ where he showed his versatility by opening the batting.

HERO HIGHLIGHT:

Rehan Ahmed and dramatic moments on debut go hand-in-hand. As well as becoming the youngest player to take a Test five-fer on debut, his maiden T20 appearance in 2022 also saw him steal the headlines.

Facing the destructive David Bedingham at the conclusion of the Powerplay, Rehan was thrown the ball from the Pavilion End at Uptonsteel County Ground. Unfazed, he tossed one up and snared a caught and bowled chance with his very first delivery “ wheeling away in celebration where he was mobbed by his teammates.

He went on to finish with the most economical figures of the evening, 4-0-22-2, before whacking two huge sixes onto the roof of the Press Box as he made a quickfire cameo of 18.

KEY CLASH:

Being a former Notts Academy player who made the lesser-trodden switch to Grace Road, there’s an added element to Sunday’s East Midlands Derby for Rehan.

Now a Leicestershire loyal, who committed his future to the Club until 2027 last summer, there’ll be extra fire in the belly as he looks to spin the Foxes to another Derby Day win over their fiercest rivals.

Rehan’s record against the Outlaws is impressive, averaging just 17.5 runs per wicket and conceding at just 6.36 runs per over against them.

With one of cricket’s most explosive young talents in their armoury, the Foxes are primed to come out all guns blazing for Sunday’s battle with the Outlaws. With East Midlands pride and quarter-final qualification on the line, it’s one not to be missed…

Secure your tickets to watch Rehan in action this weekend HERE.