​Gloucestershire have added India’s left-arm spinner R Sai Kishore to their squad for the final six County Championship fixtures of the season. Kishore, who spent two games with Surrey last year and claimed five wickets in their win at Durham, is 29 years old and has represented India in three Twenty20 internationals. He has played for Tamil Nadu in the Ranji Trophy for the past nine years and was part of the Gujarat Titans squad that won the Indian Premier League title in 2022. Across 54 first-class matches, he has taken 223 wickets, including 14 five-wicket hauls.
Gloucestershire currently have one win from eight County Championship games this season, leaving them at the bottom of Division Two. Jon Lewis, the club’s director of cricket, said the team remains committed to improving their performances for the remainder of the campaign, which resumes on 20 August with a home match against Worcestershire. “The conditions at this time of year are often very conducive to spin bowling, so we’re hopeful Sai can make a significant contribution and have a really positive impact on the team,” Lewis added.
The county will hope Kishore can help turn their fortunes as they push to climb the standings. Gloucestershire’s season has featured a notable T20 Blast performance, where they secured a comfortable victory over Surrey, but the longer format has been challenging. There is no fixed timetable yet for a broader rebuild, according to Lewis, who emphasized the club’s focus on improving results in the remaining fixtures.