Kaul signed a three-match deal with Northamptonshire as a replacement for Australia’s Chris Tremain. The 33-year-old Indian fast bowler from Punjab, who has played six international white-ball games for India, turned up for Northants’ clash against Gloucestershire, his first ever in the English domestic circuit, and found instant success.

Bowling first, Kaul shared the new ball with Ben Sanderson. His first county wicket was that of Australia international Cameron Bancroft, who was trapped plumb lbw. 

Kaul then got Oliver Price caught at second slip driving off a full delivery, before trapping James Bracey lbw with another full, swinging ball. He completed his set of five wickets with a nibbling delivery that Zafar Gohar edged behind to the wicketkeeper and a length ball that caught Josh Shaw in front of the wicket.

Gloucestershire were all out for 409 as Kaul finished with figures of 29-7-76-5 . In response, the Northants are 75-3 at the time of writing.

Kaul last played for India in 2019, and in the IPL in 2022, for RCB. A stalwart of the game in Indian domestic circles, Kaul had 284 first-class wickets from 84 matches at an average of 26.45 coming into his first county game.

Watch Siddharth Kaul take a five-for on county debut:

Five wickets on his Northamptonshire debut – an instant impact from Siddharth Kaul pic.twitter.com/QBpXyZn1fy

— Vitality County Championship (@CountyChamp) May 11, 2024