Yuzvendra Chahal signs for Kent, set to play three County Championship matches

Yuzvendra Chahal. (Photo Source: Twitter)

Veteran India leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal has signed a deal with Kent County Cricket Club to play the remaining three games of the ongoing County Championship. The 33-year-old was omitted from the Team India squad for the much-awaited ICC Cricket World Cup at home which will be contested from October 5 to November 19.

The club confirmed that Chahal will be available for selection in the remaining two home Championship matches against Nottinghamshire and Lancashire, as well as the away game against Somerset. Kent currently sit at ninth spot in the ten-team County Championship Division One table. Notably, they are in danger of being relegated to Division 2 next season.

After signing the contract with Kent CCC, Chahal expressed his excitement to play for the English county cricket club. The 33-year-old hasn’t always been a regular in first-class cricket, having played only two games in the Ranji Trophy for Haryana last season and has picked up three wickets at an average of 92.33. He has made 87 scalps from 33 first-class matches thus far.

“This is an exciting challenge for me, playing in English county cricket, and one I’m very much looking forward to,” Chahal said in the statement.

Paul Downton, Kent’s director of cricket, believes that Chahal will bring a lot of experience playing international level and will provide significant contributions to the club.

“We’re delighted to have secured a spinner of Yuzvendra’s quality for the last three Championship matches of the season, with Matt Parkinson not available to us until next year, and Hami Qadri recently injured. He is really looking forward to playing in English conditions and will bring a significant amount of skill and international experience to our squad,” Downton was quoted as saying by ESPNCricinfo.

Moreover, Kent had also signed India fast bowler Arshdeep Singh earlier this season. The 24-year-old played five games in June-July and took 13 wickets in eight bowling innings.