The Hundred 2025: Kira Chathli's rise with Surrey and London Spirit
Surrey and London Spirit batter Kira Chathli has risen up the run charts in The Hundred, crediting strength training, rock climbing, boxing and chess for her breakthrough performances.
London Spirit will host Southern Brave on Saturday in the women's Hundred, live on INLIBER iPlayer from 14:30 BST, with the men's fixture on INLIBER Two at 18:00.
While the leading run-scorers in this year's women's Hundred include global stars such as Nat Sciver-Brunt, Phoebe Litchfield, Grace Harris and Meg Lanning, Surrey's Kira Chathli has been a surprise standout.
Signed to replace Heather Knight after the England captain's hamstring injury, the 26-year-old top-order batter has amassed 160 runs at a 144.14 strike rate across six matches.
Chathli's career shifted into a higher gear after securing professional terms with Surrey last year. Increased strength and conditioning work has allowed her to trust her timing and hit the ball harder than ever.
Her focus on grip strength draws on a background in rock climbing and boxing, while her analytical edge—honed through a chemistry degree and chess—helps her read bowlers and adapt tactically.
In domestic T20 and Blast competitions, Chathli recorded a career-best 95 and a match-winning 65 for Surrey, and she clinched the victory in the Blast final against Warwickshire.
Chathli first made headlines at Dulwich Cricket Club in 2016 as the first woman to score a fifty for the men's side. More recently, she notched her maiden Hundred half-century in London Spirit's win over Birmingham Phoenix, sharing the crease with teammate Grace Harris.
Kira Chathli credits targeted strength training, adventurous sports and strategic thinking for her breakthrough performances, exemplifying how diverse skills can elevate a county player to elite levels in The Hundred.
This topic was reported by BBC Sport
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