Leicestershire have moved quickly to reinforce their Championship squad, confirming a four-month deal with South African spinner Keshav Maharaj that will cover the opening two months of next summer’s County Championship and the entire Vitality Blast.
The 35-year-old left-armer, capped more than 50 times by his country, will arrive with a handy gap in South Africa’s international calendar. By signing, he effectively rules out another tilt at the IPL, where he managed two outings for Rajasthan Royals in 2024.
Promotion back to Division One – their first since 2003 – was sealed with last week’s draw against Gloucestershire. The club now want to land with more than a thud. Maharaj joins as one of two overseas players alongside captain-keeper Peter Handscomb, who has added an extra year to his deal.
“I’ve been digging into the history of the club, and it seems like a very exciting time to sign,” Maharaj said. “The boys have done some exceptional work throughout the season and have built some great momentum heading into next year. It’s early days, but we’re tracking in the right direction, so who knows how far this team can go?”
Director of cricket Claude Henderson was equally upbeat. “It’s fantastic to welcome Keshav to Leicestershire,” he noted. “Alongside his exceptional cricketing abilities, he will bring vast international experience, leadership skills, and a huge passion for the game – all of which will be fundamental to our changing room.”
Maharaj knows the county circuit. Short stays with Lancashire and Yorkshire produced 38 first-class wickets at 19 apiece, although injury scuppered a planned 2023 spell at Middlesex. Leicestershire hope he can repeat that impact on pitches that can still turn in early spring, especially with Rehan Ahmed’s move to No. 3 leaving a gap in the spin department.
The move is part of a broader recruitment drive. Top-order batter Steven Eskinazi has arrived from Middlesex, wicketkeeper-batter Jonny Tattersall from Yorkshire, while Somerset pair Ben Green and Josh Davey bolster the seam-bowling all-round stocks. The mix of county stalwarts and international know-how looks deliberate: early points on the Championship board allow breathing space when the Blast takes over in June.
In simple terms, Maharaj provides control and attacking threat—his stock left-arm orthodox deliveries skid on, but the arm-ball and occasional quicker one keep batters honest. If the weather plays along, and if he settles quickly, Leicestershire’s return to the top flight might feel less like a leap and more like a measured step.
