Leicestershire 2026 T20 Blast Cricket Draft Preview
- May 1
- 2 min read
Updated: 5 days ago
Overview
Leicestershire finished seventh last season but weren’t far off from making the knockout stages. They recorded six wins and seven losses, with one "no result," across their 14 group games. Expect quick starts with the bat as Sol Budinger and Stevie Eskinazi combine at the top of the order. They are supported by the reliability of Rishi Patel and a strong middle-order duo consisting of Rehan Ahmed and new overseas signing Ashton Turner, who previously had stints with group rivals Durham and Lancashire.
The squad boasts impressive batting depth with the likes of Ben Mike, Ben Green, and Liam Trevaskis lower down the order. The Foxes will be hoping their young seamers can step up to lead the attack this summer, as they look to knock on the door of the qualification spots.
Banker / Wildcard / Young Gun / England Pick
Banker: Sol Budinger (BAT)
The top run-scorer for the Foxes last term, Budinger clocked up 358 runs with an aggressive strike rate of 163.47. He made three half-centuries in his 13 knocks and may have a new opening partner this season: Stevie Eskinazi. Joining from Middlesex, Eskinazi is another opener who likes to get off to a quick start and brings experience from the Big Bash with the Perth Scorchers. This pair could be dangerous, with Budinger likely acting as the main aggressor to kickstart the Leicestershire innings.
Wildcard: Liam Trevaskis (ALR)
Trevaskis played 10 times for Leicestershire last season. While he may have to share spin duties with Ajaz Patel and Rehan Ahmed, the former Durham man creates a nicely balanced attack. He also adds value with the bat down the order and provides a useful left-handed option. He currently averages 15 with the bat, striking at 123.
Young Gun: Sam Wood (BWL)
The 21-year-old featured six times in 2025 and will be looking to secure even more game time this season. Departures for Logan van Beek and Roman Walker have opened up a spot for a new bowler to break into the lineup, and Wood will be hoping to make that position his own. As the second-cheapest Foxes player at £5.1m, he presents a potentially high-value budget option.
England Watch: Rehan Ahmed (ALR)
A player everyone knows well, Ahmed possesses immense potential. He will be aiming to be the "main man" for Leicestershire this year to further cement his spot in the England white-ball side. He offers high match involvement, batting in the top four and bowling leg-spin in the middle overs. In 2025, he played nine times, taking eight wickets and scoring 300 runs at an average of 42.85, including two half-centuries.
Potential Strongest T20 Blast Starting XI
No | Player | Role |
1 | Sol Budinger | BAT |
2 | Stevie Eskinazi | BAT |
3 | Rishi Patel | BAT |
4 | Rehan Ahmed | ALR |
5 | Ashton Turner (OS) | BAT |
6 | Ben Cox | WKT |
7 | Ben Green | ALR |
8 | Ben Mike | ALR |
9 | Liam Trevaskis | ALR |
10 | Tom Scriven | ALR |
11 | Ajaz Patel (OS) | BWL |
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