Hampshire have pulled off the double signing of Rishi Patel and Fynn Hudson-Prentice as they look to rebuild a squad still coming to terms with James Vince and Liam Dawson’s retirements from red-ball cricket.

Hampshire narrowly avoided relegation from Division One on the final day of last season, their first since Vince called time on his red-ball career, and have struggled again this year. After eight Championship games they sit ninth in the table, level on points with tenth-placed Leicestershire, and will be without Dawson for the relegation run-in after he quit first-class cricket in mid-May.

They are already facing the prospect of a first season in Division Two since 2014 but have strengthened their squad by recruiting two sought-after players whose contracts were up at the end of this season.

Patel, 27, started his career at Essex but has broken through at Leicestershire, averaging 41.06 in first-class cricket across the past four seasons with eight hundreds and 15 half-centuries. He has also scored two T20 hundreds, though his white-ball returns have dipped recently.

“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,” Patel said.

“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.”

Hudson-Prentice follows Henry Crocombe in leaving cash-strapped Sussex at the end of his contract. He has spent the past five seasons back with his boyhood club after his career took off during three years with Derbyshire, and will add experience to Hampshire’s squad.

“I’ve loved my time at Sussex,” Hudson-Prentice said. “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.”

Neither player is involved in the Hundred this year so should be available to Hampshire across formats, including during the 50-over cup. Hampshire have not confirmed the length of either player’s new contracts, but they are both expected to see out the 2026 season with their current counties.

“We’re delighted to welcome both Rishi and Fynn to the club. They are experienced, high-quality players who will add strength to our squad,” Giles White, Hampshire’s director of cricket, said.

“Rishi has established himself as a consistent run scorer at the top of the order and will strengthen our batting line-up. 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.”

Hampshire have had a much more successful season in the Blast, where they sit top of the South Group heading into the final stretch of group-stage fixtures, with Vince and Dawson both still playing T20 cricket for them.