Indian leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal is set to bolster Northamptonshire’s squad for the final stretch of the County Championship Division One season, as announced by the club on Wednesday. Chahal will join the team ahead of their last One Day Cup match and will be available for the remaining five fixtures of their red-ball campaign.
This marks Chahal’s second venture into the United Kingdom’s domestic cricket scene, following his stint with Kent in the 2023 season, where he impressed by claiming nine wickets in two of the club’s final three County Championship matches.
Northamptonshire head coach John Sadler expressed his excitement over Chahal’s inclusion, highlighting the spinner’s vast experience and exceptional wicket-taking ability. “Yuzvendra is another high-profile overseas player who brings with him a wealth of experience and some incredible skills. His record speaks for itself, and his wicket-taking ability will add strength to our attack,” Sadler noted.
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Yuzvendra Chahal’s first-class cricket record is solid, with 96 wickets in 35 matches at an average of 34.51, including three four-wicket hauls and two five-fors. Despite his success in limited-overs formats, with 121 wickets in 72 ODIs and 96 wickets in 80 T20Is, Chahal has yet to make his Test debut for India.
Yuzvendra Chahal: 10-5-14-5
A magnificent Northamptonshire debut from the Indian leg-spinner. In his last eight overs his figures were 8-5-4-5!
Watch every ball of his unplayable debut spell here. pic.twitter.com/kP6GLh02Wp
— Metro Bank One Day Cup (@onedaycup) August 14, 2024
His IPL career has been nothing short of remarkable, as he became the first player in the tournament’s history to surpass 200 wickets earlier this year, achieving the milestone during a match between Rajasthan Royals and Mumbai Indians. Chahal’s addition to Northamptonshire comes as the club’s One Day Cup campaign nears its conclusion, with this being their last match as they have not advanced to the next round.
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However, his impact during his initial stint has already been felt, as he returned with outstanding figures of 5/14 in ten overs in one of his early matches. Joining a squad that includes fellow Indian Prithvi Shaw, Chahal’s presence is expected to bring a significant boost to Northamptonshire’s bowling lineup for the remainder of the season.
