Just days before the Indian Premier League 2026 (IPL 2026), it was confirmed that Rahul Chahar, who will play for Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the IPL 2026 season, is all set to return to England’s county cricket club, Surrey, for the last eight Rothesay County Championship matches this summer.
Surrey Cricket Club confirmed the contract of the Indian leg spinner, who had previously played only one match for them. In the lone match for the team, Chahar recorded historic figures of 8/51 against Hampshire.
Exceptional bowling performance by CSK spinner
In September 2025, Surrey faced Hampshire in an important County Championship Division One match in Southampton. Rahul Chahar made the difference between the two teams in a low-scoring multi-day game.
After taking two wickets in the first innings, the Indian spinner took 8 wickets in the second innings. Meanwhile, another Indian spinner Washington Sundar was also playing for the Hampshire cricket team.
This was Chahar’s only match for an English club. Ahead of another exciting domestic season, the team values ​​the Indian spinner’s skills. He will be available to play for the team in the last eight Championship matches, starting with the clash with Hampshire at The Oval on 7 June.
Official statement by the club
“Indian leg-spinner Rahul Chahar will return to Surrey for the last eight matches of the Rothesay County Championship this summer,” the club said on their official website.
With his impressive bowling spells, particularly 8/51 in the second innings, he became the club’s all-time best debutant, breaking William Mudie’s 166-year-old record when he took 7/61 in 1859.
Rahul Chahar said of the contract, “I’m very excited to be back at Surrey this season. I really enjoyed my short stint in 2025 and when I spoke to Alec Stewart I jumped at the chance to come back this season. Surrey is a successful club, and I look forward to helping the team achieve its goals in 2026.”
Club officials excited to bring back CSK spinner
The club’s director of men’s cricket, Alec Stewart, said they were excited to welcome back Rahul Chahar after his heroics in the match. The team is eager to win matches in the championship.
“Rahul came in last year and did a fantastic job at Hampshire and showed his qualities. We look forward to welcoming him back to the group and see how he can contribute to winning cricket for Surrey,” Stewart said.
Meanwhile, for the IPL 2026 season, CSK included Rahul Chahar in the auction for a sum of Rs 5.2 crore. He is expected to be included in the playing eleven of the former IPL champion. He joins CSK after a brief stint with Sunrisers Hyderabad in IPL 2025, where he got to play only one game.
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