Hampshire have completed a major coup for the 2027 season with the acquisitions of batter Rishi Patel and all-rounder Fynn Hudson-Prentice.
Hudson-Prentice made his debut in 2014, playing three seasons for Sussex before moving to Derbyshire in 2019. He returned to Sussex in 2022 and helped them in their promotion to Division One of the County Championship in 2024. The all-rounder’s departure comes among multiple exits at the club due to significant financial constraints.
“I’ve loved my time at Sussex; playing for my boyhood club for the past five years has been an utter privilege, but I believe the time is right for a change. Hampshire is a big club and has got an exciting squad and group behind the scenes, and I’m really looking forward to working with Russell [Domingo] and the team over the next few years,” Hudson Prentice said in an official statement.
Patel moved from Leicestershire, where he joined in 2021. Since the 2023 season, he has been one of their most prolific batters with over 3000 runs in the County Championship. He scored 658 runs for the Foxes in 2025 as they gained promotion to Division One for the first time since 2003.
“I’m really looking forward to joining Hampshire when the winter comes around. The club is ambitious and highly successful, especially in white-ball cricket, and I hope I can contribute to success in all formats in my time at the club. I will be forever grateful to Leicestershire for the opportunity and support they have given me, but it feels that now is the right time for me to move on at this stage in my career,” Patel said in the statement.
“They are experienced, high-quality players who will add strength to our squad. Rishi has established himself as a consistent run scorer at the top of the order and will strengthen our batting line-up while Fynn has been a reliable performer with the ball over a number of seasons and also provides significant depth with the bat. Together, they will add quality, experience and balance to the squad, and we look forward to seeing them at the Utilita Bowl next summer,” Director of Cricket Giles White said.
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