Rahul Chahar's 8-for secures Surrey victory, leaves Hampshire facing relegation

In the final round of the 2025 County Championship Division One, Indian spinner Rahul Chahar made a remarkable debut for Surrey by taking eight wickets for 51 runs, helping secure a 20-run victory over Hampshire. His performance, which included his career-best first-class figures, was pivotal as Hampshire, needing just 33 runs to win, were bowled out for 148 for 9, effectively sealing their relegation to Division Two for the first time since 2014. The defeat capped a difficult fortnight for Hampshire, marked by three final losses, an eight-point deduction, and the announcement of head coach Adi Birrell's departure after seven years. Chahar's bowling exploits were among Surrey's best since the turn of the millennium and overshadowed a strong early innings from Hampshire, including a half-century by Washington Sundar. The match ended prematurely due to bad light, with Hampshire falling short by 20 runs, confirming their drop from the top tier alongside Worcestershire. Surrey's win marked the end of Hampshire's 11-season run in Division One, underscoring the significant impact of Chahar's leg-spin on the outcome.