Deepak Chahar became the most expensive Indian bowler ever at the recently concluded IPL 2022 mega auction, where the defending champions Chennai Super Kings bought him back for an enormous INR 14 crore. He was also the second most expensive player in this year’s auction behind Ishan Kishan.
The 29-year old has played 63 matches in the Indian Premier League, claiming 59 wickets at an economy of 7.80. He made his debut for CSK in 2018, where he picked 10 wickets from 12 games. Next season, the medium pacer picked 22 wickets, while in the 2020 and 2021 campaigns, Chahar took 12 and 14 wickets, respectively.
The Super Kings shelled a whopping amount for someone who is a good new ball bowler but doesn’t offer much in other phases. His batting abilities might have to do something with it.
Speaking to Sports Tak, Chahar shared how he first caught Dhoni’s and coach Stephen Fleming’s attention back in 2016. He revealed the Pune Super Giants assistant coach Hrishikesh Kanitkar called him for trials, and that’s where Fleming noticed him. Chahar was then selected for a camp, where he caught Dhoni’s eye, hitting some big sixes.
“I bowled well with the new ball and while batting at 7, I scored a half-century hitting some fours and big sixes. On the second day, I got a chance to bat higher – at 4 – and again I scored 50 runs.
“When we got selected, there was a camp. That is where Mahi bhai came. I came at 3 and I smoked 5 sixes in 10 balls – was unbeaten on 30. In 2018 when he picked me, he told me ‘You will play all matches. We believe in you. We trust you. Just do what you have been doing.”
he said.
Chahar’s batting is likely to be used more by CSK in the 2022 IPL season scheduled to start on March 27. The Chennai franchise is known for loyalty, and they have bought back most of their players from the last season, including Ambati Rayudu, Dwayne Bravo and Robin Uthappa.
Also read 👉 “I thought it was too much”: Chahar opens up on 14 crores price tag
