Just for the last game of the County Championship 2025 clash against Hampshire at the Rose Bowl in Southampton, Surrey signed Rahul Chahar, the Indian leg spinner, as they looked to earn the top title in the race. It was also a great chance for the spinner to show his caliber, having been out of the team for a long time, ahead of the domestic season 2025-26.

In the first innings, Surrey batted first to end with a paltry score of 147 runs in 47.2 overs as Dan Lawrance was the leading individual run-getter with 36 runs in 60 balls, while Hampshire got a solid lead, having put 248 runs in their innings, as several batters got starts along with the lone half-century from Washington Sundar.

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It was important for Surrey to make a strong comeback in the second innings as they ended with 281 runs on the board, as Dom Sibley, Ben Foakes, and Lawrence crossed the 40-run mark in the innings, while Ralphie Albert ended with 63 runs in 90 deliveries at a strike rate of 70.

Watch: Rahul Chahar’s seven wickets in County Championship Division One 2025 for Surrey

The Southampton surface is always known to help the spinner, and that was the exact case on the third day. Rahul Chahar got an incredible purchase from the track as he sent back both the opening batters, Alistair Orr and Fletcha Middleton. On the other hand, Tony Albert ended with 13 runs in 20 balls.

The ninth wicket to fall! 🤩

What a finish to the 2025 season this is proving to be.

🤎 | #SurreyCricket https://t.co/uFXEHyQ5Ie pic.twitter.com/wsZU4huuar

— Surrey Cricket (@surreycricket) September 26, 2025

Chahar finished the third day’s play with seven wickets to his name. He currently has impressive figures of 7/45 in 20 overs, including six maidens at an economy rate of 2.20. Hampshire need 33 runs for victory while Surrey need one solitary wicket to end the season with a win. The game is poised to be a thrilling contest.

The 26-year-old has overall picked up 87 wickets in 40 first-class innings at an average of 28.01 and a strike rate of 45.2 with the help of six four-wicket and seven five-wicket hauls at the best bowling figure of 5/59 in an inning.

Pakistan's Test team captain Shan Masood, in a single attempt, ends Leicestershire's 22-year-long wait to qualify for Division One of the County Championship. With a target to gain promotion, the county club signed the experienced Pakistani batter on an all-format contract.

In a do-or-die situation, Masood smashed a hundred and secured the club's promotion to a higher level of England's domestic cricket. Leicestershire signed in the 35-year-old in 2025 to replace Peter Handscomb. On his bus debut match for Leicestershire, the middle-order batter played a crucial knock. Masood came into the middle as their number 5 batsman and scored 111 runs off 176 balls with 13 boundaries against Gloucestershire. Gloucestershire declared their second innings for 175 for 3 and set a target of 316 runs for Leicestershire from 74 overs. Before the lunch they already were one man down for only 17.

Later, a heavy rain interruption settled the match for a draw, which proved enough for them to get the much-awaited promotion. They last featured in Division One in 2003 and have since been playing in Division Two, finishing last on eight occasions. Masood scored his century during the first innings of the match. His partnership with Lewis Hill (88) proved to be an important factor in reducing the gap between the two teams. In the process, the southpaw batter also completed his 12,000 first-class runs. 

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Pakistan Test team captain's achivements in County Cricket

In the 2023-24 season, Masood, as a captain, played successfully for Yorkshire, the most successful club in the County Championship, by claiming 1240 runs from 15 matches, averaging around 53. With the help from his contributions, the 32-time champions were able to gain promotion back to Division One in 2024. 

Masood played his last Test match for Pakistan earlier this year against the West Indies. On January 3, 2025, against South Africa in Cape Town, the left-handed batter played a 145-run innings. 

England pacer Mark Wood is poised to return to competitive matches with Durham in September through the County Championship. The fast bowler has been in the recovery phase because of a knee injury he received during the ICC Champions Trophy in Pakistan. His possible stint with Durham comes as a part of his recovery ahead of the Ashes, scheduled to take place in Australia this winter.

In a recent podcast, Wood himself revealed that he tried to make an appearance during the Anderson-Tendulkar trophy but remained out of the ground due to a swollen knee.

"It was 50-50 whether I was going to make the India Test, but I was bowling at Lord's, and then, the next day, my knee swelled up again, so I had it drained, and since then, it's just been about taking things easy, looking ahead to the winter," he informed. But, now, he feels good. "The injury is all right."

England fast bowler Mark Wood is targeting a return to action with Durham in the County Championship in September ahead of the Ashes series this winter 👀🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 pic.twitter.com/nWi81eQXJi

— Sky Sports Cricket (@SkyCricket) August 27, 2025

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His return will benifit England 

Wood's return to competitive matches will be crucial for England, as they had to face multiple injury issues in the recent past. Another experienced pacer, Chris Woakes, is yet to recover from a shoulder injury that he received during a match against India. If Woakes is unable to get the match ready before The Ashes, then Wood could be their main man to lead the bowling side. On the Australian surfaces, a high-speed bowler can be very useful for the visiting side. And for England, Wood is the best in terms of speed.

Durham is set to play three County Championship matches in September: Essex (September 8), Worcestershire (September 15), and Yorkshire (September 24). "I'll try and play one or two of those," Wood said about his possible comeback. Mark Wood played his last Test match on August 21, 2024, against Sri Lanka at Emirates Old Trafford. 

Surrey moved top of the points table in the English County Championship Division One 2025, at least for some hours, after beating Durham by five wickets. The 28-year-old Indian left-arm spinner R Sai Kishore claimed a five-wicket haul in the third innings of the match.

Rory Burns-led Surrey bowled out Durham for 344 runs in the third innings of the match, as Surrey had the 176-run target in the fourth innings of the match. Surrey won the match after chasing the fourth innings target by losing five wickets.

See Also: Yuzvendra Chahal shines with 6 wickets in County Championship

Sai Kishore recorded 5/72

During the third innings of the match, Sai Kishore was the star bowler for Surrey as he had the bowling figures of 41.4-12-72-5. It was his first five-wicket haul in the ongoing County Championship. Three out of his five wickets of the innings he picked up on Thursday (July 31). His bowling led Surrey to take the last four wickets for 33 runs. 

Earlier, in the first innings of the match, Durham were bundled out for only 153 runs, where Sai Kishore had the bowling figures of 12-1-26-2. Surrey replied with 322 runs in their first innings of the game. 

The Indian left-arm spinner also picked up two wickets in both innings during Surrey's previous game of the tournament against Yorkshire, where the match was ended in a draw, while Surrey earned the six points after earning the first innings lead.  

R Sai Kishore is in great form

Before the ongoing County season, Sai Kishore performed well in the Tamil Nadu Premier League 2025, where he was the joint fifth most wicket-taker in the tournament with 12 wickets in nine games for IDream Tiruppur Tamizhans. The left-handed batter also scored 129 runs, including one half-century. 

Sai Kishore was also the second leading wicket-taker among the spinners in the IPL 2025 as he recorded 19 wickets in 15 games for Gujarat Titans. He also served for India in the Asian Games 2023, where India won their first medal. 

Indian leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal recorded his first five-wicket haul in the ongoing English County Championship season, as his six-fer helped the hosts Northamptonshire to make a strong statement against the second-division side Derbyshire. 

Yuzvendra Chahal recorded 6 for 118 runs

After Derbyshire chose to bat first, they scored 377 all out on the early second day, while the hosts ended the day on 265/5. The 35-year-old Indian leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal was the standout bowler in the first innings of the match, as he finished with the bowling figures of 33.2-5-118-6. It was his fifth five-wicket haul in his first-class career.

While the no.7 batter Martin Andersson (105) scored a brilliant century in the first innings, Chahal took the wickets of opener Luis Reece (39), no.3 Harry Came (17), no.5 Brooke Guest (0), and the lower-order batters Zak Chappell (32), Ben Aitchison (45), and Blair Tickner (11). Chahal triggered a mid-batting-order collapse, as the visitors suddenly found themselves from 82/1 to 89/5. 

In the ongoing County Championship Division Two season, Chahal recorded a wicketless and a four-wicket haul against Kent, and later had another wicketless bowling figures against Middlesex.

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Yuzvendra Chahal was in great form last County season

In the previous County Championship Division Two season (2024), the Indian leggie Yuzvendra Chahal finished as the fourth leading wicket-taker for Northamptonshire by picking up 19 wickets in just four matches, including two five-wicket hauls and two more four-fers. While he had a bowling average of 21.10 in that season, it was the fourth-best bowling average among at least 15-wicket takers in that competition.

Although Chahal has played 72 ODIs and 80 T20Is, where the leggie picked up 121 and 96 wickets, respectively, India's second leading T20I wicket-taker, he hasn't played a Test match yet. He hasn't played an international match since August 2023. Although he was a member of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2024 title-winning team, he wasn't selected in any playing XI. 

When Surrey signed R Sai Kishore for the last few games of the County Championship 2025, it was expected to see the left-arm spinner earn success with his excellent bowling. On July 30, he showed his skills during the red-ball clash against Durham at Riverside Ground in Chester-Le-Street. He made a huge impact in his second appearance for the side.

It was the magical delivery from the Tamil Nadu spinner that caught the eyes of the world as the video went viral. One of the dream deliveries for any left-arm spinner is to loop the ball in the air and square the batter in two halves. It was the delivery from the GT spinner that was middle on the middle of the surface and held its line.

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The Durham wicket-keeper batter, Ollie Robbinson, had no idea of how to deal with the delivery. He pushed back to the back foot and was bamboozled by the straight line, seeing it holding the straight line, and crashed into the stump. The batter got dismissed for two runs in five runs.

Watch: R Sai Kishore bowls dream delivery for Surrey during County Championship 2025

Later, the spinner picked up the wicket of Bas de Leede for a four-ball duck after being adjudged leg before the stumps. The home side won the toss and opted to bat first. Captain Alex Lees got 34 runs in 70 balls while Colin Ackerman drilled 51 runs in 104 balls, hitting six boundaries. Matthew Potts got 32 runs as they were bundled out for 153 runs in 55.1 overs.

 

 

 

 

 

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Surrey didn’t get a good start in the second innings as they lost both their openers for 23 runs in the first hour. Ryan Patel rescued them with 58 runs in 72 balls at a strike rate of 80.56, thanks to nine boundaries and one six. Dan Lawrence nailed an unbeaten 68 runs in 84 balls at a strike rate of 80.95, thanks to nine fours and one six.

Surrey ended the day with 182/5, having already taken a lead of 29 runs. They are at the top of the points table in Division One of the County Championship 2025 with three victories in 10 encounters with 154 points.

The left-arm India and Chennai Super Kings (CSK) pacer, Khaleel Ahmed, has cut short his deal in the County Championship 2025 for Essex after playing two first-class games. He had initially signed for a two-month stint with the team, which would have seen him play six first-class fixtures till the remainder of the first-class season. 

Besides that, Khaleel Ahmed was supposed to be part of a maximum of ten possible List A games in the One-day Cup. The club announced his signing in June, after he impressed the management with a fine spell of 4/70 for India A during the red-ball game against the England Lions.

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The Rajasthan-born flew out to join the club for the stint that was expected to last till late September and played two encounters, taking just four wickets at an average of over 64. However, Essex released a press statement to confirm the news of the pacer returning home. ‘We fully support Khaleel's decision and are grateful for the contributions he made during his time with us.’ They revealed, besides showing his disappointment.

Khaleel Ahmed returns home to cut short County Championship 2025 deal with Essex

Khaleel has featured in 11 ODIs for India and has picked up 15 wickets at an average of 31 and a strike rate of 32, with the best figures of 3/13 in an innings. In 18 T20Is, the left-arm pacer has collected 16 wickets at an average of 35.12 and a strike rate of 24.7, besides his economy rate of just over 8.50, thanks to the best of 2/27.

His international white-ball career started in 2014 during the Asia Cup against Hong Kong, while the last game was against Sri Lanka during the T20I at Kandy last year. In this year’s 14 IPL 2025 innings, the experienced campaigner has picked up 15 wickets at an average of under 30 and an economy rate of nearly 9.60.

Rajasthan kept him in the squad and also picked him for last year’s Duleep Trophy. Across 22 first-class games, he has bagged 60 wickets at an average of 30.13. He will also be in contention for the inter-zonal Duleep Trophy competition, which begins India’s red-ball season on August 28.

Indian left-arm spinner R Sai Kishore claimed his first wicket in the English County Championship, and it was a prized one: England star Jonny Bairstow. In a truncated day of play at Scarborough, Kishore dismissed Bairstow for a fluent 72, as Yorkshire moved to 376 for 5 against Surrey in their 10th round Rothesay County Championship fixture.

Play on day two began late at 1 pm due to a wet outfield, with Yorkshire resuming on 282 for 4. Bairstow was unbeaten on 19 overnight, joined by Matthew Revis, who was yet to score. The pair went on to stitch together an 88-run partnership, with Bairstow taking the lead in an aggressive display.

Bairstow looked in sublime touch, dispatching Dan Worrall for consecutive cover drives to bring up Yorkshire’s 300. He later brought up a 68-ball half-century, his sixth of the season and third against Surrey, by sweeping Sai Kishore for six. It was vintage Bairstow, combining power with precision as Yorkshire’s dominance grew under bright sunshine.

Watch the video:

Sai Kishore won an intriguing battle with Jonny Bairstow! 💥

🤎 | #SurreyCricket pic.twitter.com/jZNmSOb24B

— Surrey Cricket (@surreycricket) July 23, 2025

We're still of the field here in Scarborough. 😢

Enjoy Sai Kishore's first Surrey wicket while we wait for some updates. 🎬

🤎 | #SurreyCricket https://t.co/BHs30FCeeh pic.twitter.com/1xucZPVyae

— Surrey Cricket (@surreycricket) July 23, 2025

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Bairstow's aggression cut short as Sai Kishore bags memorable first wicket in County cricket

His attacking intention ultimately proved to be his downfall. Having tried the aerial route against Kishore once more, Bairstow badly skewed the shot and was caught by Will Jacks at deep mid-on. It was a big wicket for Surrey and a special moment for Kishore, who is on his first County stint.

Despite the sunshine earlier in the day, umpires Nigel Llong and Russell Warren remained cautious due to the soggy outfield and problematic bowlers' run-ups, remnants of heavy rain from the previous day. Further rain arrived after 2.35 pm, cutting short the day's proceedings, and play was eventually called off at 4.40 pm.

Matthew Revis was unbeaten on 34 and Will Sutherland on 6 when the players walked off. Yorkshire will hope to push on with the bat if weather permits on day three, while Kishore’s breakthrough has given Surrey a much-needed opening in the contest. For the 28-year-old spinner, the wicket of Bairstow is not just a milestone, but a potential launchpad for further impact in English conditions.

It was around last year when Middlesex signed the former all-format New Zealand captain, Kane Williamson, for the T20 Blast, the County Championship 2025 season, and the London Spirit in the Hundred 2025. It was a huge overseas signing from the England club, who was looking forward to seeing the veteran right-handed batter pile up runs for the side.

And Williamson delivered during his first County Championship 2025 game at the Merchant Taylor’s School Ground in Northwood against Northamptonshire as he celebrated his maiden century of the competition. It was the full-length delivery that swung back at the batter, who tickled it past the leg side into the square region and rushed back for the second.

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The entire crowd stood on their feet as Williamson raised his bat after taking the helmet off. He soaked the pressure and started the usual business again. It was the 44th century in first-class cricket for the 34-year-old, who stayed back in England and avoided the Test matches for the Kiwis against Zimbabwe for the role.

Watch: Kane Williamson notches up maiden County Championship century for Middlesex

It seemed to be a good batting surface where the visiting side took full advantage and batted with full responsibility and attention. Opener Sam Robson smashed a fine half-century on the opening day of the game while his partner, Max Holden, notched up 151 runs in 282 balls. Williamson ended his knock with 114 runs in 159 balls at a strike rate of over 70, with the help of 14 boundaries and one six.

First Rothesay County Championship match for Middlesex, first Middlesex century for Kane Williamson. pic.twitter.com/Z5f79h3aOu

— Rothesay County Championship (@CountyChamp) July 23, 2025

In three balls, Middlesex lost both their set batters as captain Leus de Plooy and Ryan Higgins had started to recover the innings as they had smelt the 400 runs already. The aim would be to reach 500 or beyond.

Williamson, however, will be satisfied with his effort. He has now recorded 14265 runs in FC cricket in 302 innings at an average of over 51 alongside 44 centuries and 65 half-centuries at the best score of unbeaten 284 runs. The Tauranga-born last featured in a Test for the Blackcaps in 2024 against the Ben Stokes-led side at Seddon Park in Hamilton.

Yuzvendra Chahal Proves He Can Spin the Red Ball, Just Ask Counties What Stands Out About Yuzi’s Revamped Version For some time now, Yuzvendra Chahal has been the white-ball specialist  the spinner to go for in limited-overs cricket. But in the current County Championship 2025, he is reconfiguring that story with performance, poise and a point to prove WICKET | Chahal PICKS UP HIS FOURTH Chahal now has 4 wickets in his 4 overs after pinning Podmore lbw in front of the stumps for 7! Another who relished a pitch offering more to seamers than spinners, he used his sharp control and variation cleverly, showing how he can grow in red-ball conditions.

What made this performance more impressive was the way he dismantled the opposition. Chahal didn’t just rely on big turn or mystery  he out-thought the batters. Tossing it up with flight, using subtle drift, and mixing his pace beautifully, he forced errors that turned the match. Every wicket came at a pressure point, stopping Kent’s progress and putting Northants in control. It was the kind of spell that speaks louder than stats  it showed a bowler in command of his craft.

For Chahal, this wasn’t just a good day out  it was a message to those watching closely back home. India’s Test squad has a packed spin department, but performances like this demand attention. Playing County cricket is giving Chahal exactly what he needs  time in the middle, longer spells, and exposure to tough batting conditions all invaluable tools for a red-ball resurgence.
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A White-Ball Star Finds Red-Ball Rhythm: Chahal’s County Heroics Spark Test Hopes

This four-wicket haul might just be the spark that lights up a new chapter in Chahal’s career. Succeeding in England, especially as a spinner, is no small feat  and it shows how far he’s evolved beyond the T20 template.

If he keeps this form going, the conversation around India’s future Test selections could shift. For now, fans in England  and back in India  are seeing something special: a reinvented Yuzvendra Chahal, spinning stories with the red ball.