Chennai Super Kings' frontline leg-spinner Rahul Chahar is set to rejoin Surrey County Cricket Club for an eight-match stint in the upcoming County Championship season this summer. The deal was confirmed on Thursday, March 26, which is just a couple of days before the commencement of the Indian Premier League's (IPL) 2026 edition.
Chahar had a memorable debut for Surrey in September last year, which also remains his only appearance for the side so far. The wrist-spinner impressed with a 10-wicket match haul, including a stunning 8/51 spell in the second innings. The spell marked the best first-class bowling figures by a Surrey debutant, surpassing William Mudie’s long-standing record of 7/61 that had remained unbeaten for a staggering 166 years.
The 24-year-old will feature in the final eight fixtures of the season, beginning with Surrey’s clash against Hampshire County Cricket Club at The Oval on June 7.
"I'm so excited to be coming back to Surrey this season. I really enjoyed my short spell in 2025 and jumped at the opportunity to come back this season when I spoke to Alec Stewart. Surrey is a successful Club and I want to help the team achieve its goals in 2026," he was quoted as saying by Cricbuzz.
Surrey’s director of men’s cricket and former England pace bowler, Alec Stewart, also expressed his delight over Chahar’s return.
"Rahul came in last year and did an excellent job at Hampshire, showing his qualities. We're looking forward to welcoming back to the group and seeing how he can contribute to winning games of cricket for Surrey," said Stewart.
Before heading to England, Chahar will be involved in the marquee Indian tournament, where he is part of the Chennai Super Kings squad until the end of May. He was bought by the five-time IPL winners for 5.20 crore INR at the IPL 2026 auction and will play a key role after the departures of Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin from Ruturaj Gaikwad’s side ahead of the 2026 season.