Yorkshire County Cricket Club (YCCC) are delighted to announce that emerging batter Yash Vagadia has extended his contract with the Club.
Vagadia, 20, has penned a two-year extension to his rookie professional deal through to the end of 2026.
The Newcastle-born right-hander, who also bowls very useful off-spinners, has been at Headingley since the age of 11 and has previously captained the county’s Academy/under-18s teams.
Yash Vagadia pictured at Headingley.
Vagadia said: “I’ve been part of the club since I was 11, and I’ve loved every minute of it.
“I’ve relished my time at Yorkshire, and I wouldn’t want to go anywhere else.
“I’m really glad to have extended for another two years here.”
He signed his first rookie pro contract ahead of 2023 and, most recently, was Yorkshire’s leading run-scorer in the Second Eleven T20 competition as the county progressed through to last week’s final, beaten by Somerset at Wormsley.
Vagadia was superb in that competition, highlighting his talent.
Batting at three, he scored 213 runs in nine matches with high scores of 44, 54 and 46 at a strike-rate of 150. He was Yorkshire’s leading run-scorer in the competition and also added 11 wickets.
“I’ve really enjoyed this year so far, and I’m looking forward to the next two years,” said the Durham University student, who has just finished his second year studying a joint honours in biology and chemistry.
Yash Vagadia, pictured during the LV= Insurance Men’s Third Ashes Test, England v Australia last year at Headingley as twelfth man.
Vagadia continued: “I’ve only played a handful of the red ball games this summer because of injury and exams at University. The main part of my season which I can judge myself on has been the white ball stuff.
“Last year, I really struggled in the T20s compared to what I should have been doing. This year, I’ve outdone myself as to what I was expecting.
“I set myself goals at the start of the season, and I’ve surpassed those so far. Hopefully I can kick on from here.
“Improving my T20 strike-rate was the main goal I had over the winter and how I was looking to go about my batting. It wasn’t so much about the runs and the average, it was more to do with getting my strike-rate up and being more positive and fearless in the powerplay.
“I feel I’ve taken well to that style of play, and that’s what suits me best – taking on the bowlers with the fielders in.” Vagadia, who plays his club cricket for Hartlepool in the North Yorkshire South Durham League, has scored nine half-centuries for the county’s second team.
He is yet to make his first-team debut, something which could come over the next few weeks in the Metro Bank One-Day Cup.
“That’s my aim, to hopefully make my debut in the first-team,” he added.
“It will be tough because we’ve not lost a lot of players to the Hundred and we have quite a strong squad. That’s great for the county, and hopefully I can break into that.
“The (second-team) T20 comp, I feel like I’ve really shown signs of my ability. If I can build on that with some more runs, hopefully that first-team opportunity is not too far away.”
Late last year, off the field, Vagadia was honoured by the Professional Cricketers Association in their Futures Awards, winning the top prize in their Academic Progression category.
Ottis Gibson, Head Coach for YCCC, said: “Yash has done well in the seconds.
“He’s not really had an opportunity in the first team yet, but he’s taken his opportunities in the second team, and we feel his development is on track.
“We’re delighted to give him another contract for another couple of seasons and it’s an important next step in his career.”
