Indian leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal is set for another county season, with Northamptonshire confirming his return for the second half of the 2026 campaign. This will be Chahal’s third spell with the club, where he will feature in both the County Championship and the Metro Bank One-Day Cup.
Unlike his previous stints, the 36-year-old will also take on a mentoring role, guiding Northamptonshire’s young spin group, including Nirvan Ramesh and Stuart van der Merwe.
Head coach Darren Lehmann, who worked closely with Chahal in 2025, praised his impact on and off the field. “Yuzi is a magnificent asset to this squad. His record across his career speaks for itself and he brings so much class and experience to the group. I loved working with him this year and am excited to go again in 2026,” Lehmann said.
Chahal at County Championship
Chahal has picked up 44 first-class wickets and seven in List A during his time at Wantage Road, with his best haul being a six-for against Derbyshire last season. His presence, Lehmann believes, will be crucial for the development of the younger players as well as in stabilising the squad across formats.
Northamptonshire are building steadily for 2026, with Australian seamer Harry Conway also re-signed after a strong 2025 season, and batter Louis Kimber joining from Leicestershire. The club will hope Chahal’s return provides both skill on the field and mentorship off it as they aim for a stronger showing across competitions next summer. Chahal, in his second successive year with Northants, played three Division Two Championship matches in 2025, picking up 12 wickets at an average of 46.00.
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