We call him the magician, says Northamptonshire's Keogh about Chahal
Yuzvendra Chahal has been hailed as a 'magician' by his Northamptonshire teammate Rob Keogh. The leg-spinner, who took a fifer in the first innings, finished with 4/54 in the 2nd innings versus Derbyshire in a crucial County Championship Division 2 match. Notably, Chahal secured career-best match-haul figures worth of 9 for 99, significantly contributing to Northamptonshire's 133-run triumph over Derbyshire at County Ground. Here's more.
Keogh praises Chahal
"We call him the magician," said Keogh about Chahal. "He's got a bag of tricks. Luckily it was too cold for him to get all his tricks out. So he said he just stuck to the flipper a few times and that got him a few wickets. Obviously, everyone knows what he can do, including the opposition. They are expecting him to bowl big turners and he pulls out the flipper," he added.
Chahal and Keogh shine for Northamptonshire
Chahal's impact was immediately felt as he claimed five wickets on Day 1, dominating Derbyshire's batting line-up. His exceptional form continued into the second day with an additional four wickets, finishing with match figures of 9 for 99. In addition to Chahal, Keogh was sensational. He claimed eight wickets in the match and scored 5 and 63.
Chahal completed 100 wickets in FC cricket
Keogh further praised Chahal's strategy, stating that despite the cold weather limiting his usual variety, he effectively used the flipper to secure wickets. This match also marked a significant milestone in Chahal's career as he completed 100 wickets in First-Class cricket. Chahal made his FC debut in 2009 and has played only 36 matches over 15 years. As per ESPNcricinfo, he has raced to 106 wickets at 33.
Chahal's journey with Northamptonshire and future plans
Chahal has proven to be a valuable addition to Northamptonshire during the ongoing English summer. He secured a five-wicket haul in his only One-Day Cup match for Northamptonshire against Kent on August 14. Despite a slow start in his first two County Championship Division Two matches, he has bounced back strongly. Chahal is set to play two more County Championship matches for Northants this season.
Chahal's IPL record and international career
Chahal has not yet played Tests for India but continues to showcase his red-ball cricket skills in the County Championship. He is also expected to play for Haryana in the upcoming Ranji Trophy season. Earlier this year, Chahal became the first bowler in IPL history to claim 200 wickets. Since making his debut back in 2016, he has represented India in 72 ODIs and 80 T20Is.
