In 2025, leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal will return to Northamptonshire to compete in the One-Day Cup and County Championship in England. Chahal will make his second career appearance with Northants after playing for Punjab Kings in the Indian Premier League, the English county team announced on Thursday, March 13. Chahal will be available for Northamptonshire's County Championship Division Two campaign starting on June 22, beginning with a match at home against Middlesex, the county said.
The Indian spinner will be missing the first seven matches of this season, which will be starting on April 4. Chahal will lead Punjab Kings' bowling attack in the 2025 Indian Premier League, which will take place from March 22 to May 25, prior to his trip to England. After that, he will take a month-long hiatus before moving to England to play red-ball cricket.
Chahal's performance in 2024
Following an outstanding 2024 season with the Northampton-based side, the leg-spinner returns to Northants. He collected five wickets in a List A match against Kent in the One-Day Cup and took 19 wickets in four County Championship games. In red-ball cricket, he recorded a career-high 9 for 99 against Derbyshire in the previous year's County Championship.
"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," Chahal said.
Recently, Chahal was spotted supporting India at the Champions Trophy final in Dubai. He and RJ Mahvash were spotted sitting in the stands..
Coach Lehman on Chahal
Chahal's return to the Northants was welcomed by former Australia batter and coach Darren Lehman.
"I am really excited that one of 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," he said.
Chahal, the most expensive spinner in league history, will play for a revamped Punjab Kings team in the 2025 Indian Premier League after the former finalists paid him Rs 18 crore.