NEW DELHI: Yuzvendra Chahal is set to return to Northamptonshire for the 2025 County Championship season after impressing during his stint with the club in 2024. The India leg-spinner’s new deal will see him join the squad from June—once his IPL 2025 commitments with the Punjab Kings are complete—and stay on until the end of the English season.
Chahal will feature in both the County Championship and the One-Day Cup, with his first match expected to be on June 22 against Middlesex. In 2024, he made an immediate impact, taking five wickets on debut against Kent in the One-Day Cup and later delivering a sensational 9-99 against Derbyshire in the County Championship—a career-best performance.
His contributions proved vital as Northamptonshire secured back-to-back wins against Derbyshire and Leicestershire, with Chahal finishing the season with 19 wickets at an average of 21 across just four first-class games.
“I thoroughly enjoyed my time here last season, so I’m very happy to be coming back. There are some great people in that dressing room, and I can’t wait to be part of that again. We played some great cricket towards the back end of the season, so hopefully, we’re able to replicate that and big up some victories,” said Chahal.
Despite not featuring for India since 2023, Chahal was part of the squad that won the 2024 Men’s T20 World Cup. His international experience, coupled with his county success, makes him a prized asset for Northamptonshire.
New head coach Darren Lehmann shared his enthusiasm about Chahal’s return: “I’m really excited that one of the best leg spinners in the world is returning to Northamptonshire this season. He brings invaluable experience, and he’s an absolute gentleman who loves the game. Having him available from mid-June until the end of the season will be fantastic for us.”
CEO Ray Payne echoed Lehmann’s sentiments, saying, “Yuzvendra was magnificent for us last year and played a crucial role in those back-to-back victories in September. Having him around last season was a pleasure; he’s a world-class operator and a wonderful person, so we’re all delighted to get him back for longer this season.”
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