Ish Sodhi signs up with Canterbury for 2022-23 after ten seasons with Northern Districts
Legspinner says he "wanted to be home a bit more and spend more time with the family" in Christchurch
ESPNcricinfo staff
22-May-2022
"I just want to come in and contribute as much as I can to the environment" • AFP
New Zealand legspinner Ish Sodhi will be representing Canterbury in the upcoming 2022-2023 domestic season after ten seasons with Northern Districts.
Residing in Christchurch with his family for the past five years, Canterbury Cricket in a statement said that he has "decided to fully entrench himself in the tapestry of the city by pulling on the red and black this summer."
"It was a really tough decision, being from one association for all my life, I leave with a heavy heart," Sodhi said. "But to be in a position where I can be bold enough to make that decision speaks a lot of my development at ND.
"Family has played the biggest part [in the move south]. Being down here for the past few years and my daughter is just about to turn two years old so I just wanted to be home a bit more and spend more time with the family."
"I just want to come in and contribute as much as I can to the environment."
Sodhi, 29, is expected to join the team during the winter pre-season training in the newly constructed Sir Richard Hadlee Sports Centre.
Peter Fulton, Canterbury's head coach, said that a "new challenge" will help Sodhi work towards his goal of a comeback into the Test side.
"Clearly, we are delighted to secure the services of Ish for the 2022-23 season," Fulton said. "He lives in Christchurch and has a young family, so I am really pleased he has now decided to play his cricket for Canterbury.
"I am really looking forward to working with Ish and can't wait to see him on the field at Hagley Oval wearing red and black.
"I know Ish harbours ambitions to play Test cricket again so hopefully a new challenge will be exactly what he needs to achieve that goal."
In the previous Plunket Shield season, Sodhi played three games and picked up nine wickets at an average of 17.44. In the recently-concluded season, Canterbury finished second on the points table, with Auckland winning the championship. Canterbury have won the domestic titles four times in the past.