India’s wrist spinner Yuzvendra Chahal after being ignored from the Indian squad for the ongoing Asia Cup 2023 and the upcoming World Cup, is set to make his debut for English county side Kent. Chahal’s wife Dhanashree Verma has elevated the spinner's confidence ahead of the county season. "Always so proud of you. You are our legend," wrote Dhanashree on her Instagram story, adding, "Let's show some more magic."
Chahal will be taking part in the three games for Kent, playing against Nottinghamshire and Lancashire, as well as the away game versus Somerset. Chahal has now become the second Indian player who will be playing for the side after pacer Arshdeep Singh, who played five games for Kent in June-July, capturing 13 wickets.
"This is an exciting challenge for me, playing in English county cricket, and one I'm very much looking forward to," Chahal said in a club statement.
Meanwhile, Kent head coach Paul Downton said: "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." Chahal who is yet to play a red ball match for India has taken part in 33 First-Class matches where he picked up 87 wickets at an average of 35.25, including three four-fors (in an innings) and a couple of fifers. His best figures are of 6 for 44 (innings) and 8 for 112 (game).
Last season, he played two games for Haryana in the Ranji Trophy where he scalped three wickets at an average of 92.33. Kent is currently placed at the ninth spot in the Division 1 table. Earlier, former Indian spinner Harbhajan Singh was also left shocked to see Chahal's exclusion from the Cricket World Cup 2023 squad.
"Surprise not to see @yuzi_chahal in the World Cup squad for Team India. pure Match winner," he posted on the social media platform X (formerly known as Twitter).