Out-Of-Favour India Spinner Breaks 166-Year-Old Record, Becomes 1st Cricketer To… | Cricket News

26-year-old Rahul Chahar, who has played one ODI and six T20Is for Team India so far, made his debut for Surrey this year and played for the Rory Burns-led side against Hampshire in their last league match of the County Championship Division One in Southampton from September 24 to 27. In his first-ever county match for the Oval-based team, Chahar made his presence felt and helped them secure a win by 20 runs despite conceding a 101-run lead in the first innings.

In the second innings of the red-ball match, which concluded on Saturday, September 27, Chahar bowled 24 overs and picked up 8 wickets for 51 runs.

He is the first cricketer to dismiss 8 batters in an innings of a county debut for Surrey.

Before Chahar, the record of best bowling figures in a debut county match for Surrey was in the name of William Mudie. Mudie dismissed 7 batters for 61 runs vs the North at the Oval in 1859.

It was due to Chahar’s super show with the ball against the side that featured Indian all-rounder Washington Sundar; Surrey successfully managed to defend the target of 181 runs.

Chahar, who has played in the IPL for Rising Pune Super Giants, Mumbai Indians, Sunrisers Hyderabad and Punjab Kings, opened his wicket account on Friday by dismissing Fletcha Middleton on the fourth ball of the 19th over. Middleton was bowled by Chahar after adding 18 runs from 48 balls to his team’s total. He then bowled Toby Albert on the last ball of the 27th over.

On the fourth ball of the 31st over, Chahar breached opener Ali Orr’s defence and shattered his stumps. Orr faced 96 balls for Hampshire and scored 48 runs with the help of six fours.

Chahar’s fourth wicket came in the form of England’s spinner Liam Dawson. Dwason, who played for the Ben Stokes-led side in the fourth Test of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy against India in Manchester from July 23 to 27, 2025, was caught by Ryan Patel on the third ball of the 35th over.

The Indian spinner, whose cousin Deepak Chahar is also an Indian cricketer, completed his five-wicket haul by taking Washington Sundar’s wicket. Sundar, who scored a half-century in the first innings, could only manage to score 11 runs from 17 balls in the second. He was caught by discarded England Rory Burns on the third ball of the 39th over.

Scott Currie was the sixth Hampshire batter dismissed by Chahar. He trapped him in front of the wickets and then sealed the win for the visitors by dismissing Kyle Abbott (3 runs from 11 balls) and James Fuller (37 runs from 81 balls).

While Abbott was caught by wicketkeeper Ben Foakes on the last ball of the 45th over, Fuller also handed a catch to Foakes on the last ball of the 59th over.

Chahar’s figures of 8/51 in 24 overs are the best by any bowler in the 2025 edition of County Championship Division One.

Best bowling figures in 2025 County Championship Division One 

In the first innings as well, Chahar made his presence felt by taking 2 wickets for 67 runs in 20.4 overs.