In a heartening moment during the IPL 2025 mega auction, Deepak Chahar expressed his gratitude to Chennai Super Kings (CSK) for their determined efforts to secure his services despite having limited funds in their purse. Chahar, who has been a key figure in CSK’s bowling attack since 2018, was eventually picked up by Mumbai Indians (MI), ending his seven-year-long association with the franchise. Though disappointed by the outcome, Chahar acknowledged CSK’s relentless bidding and shared his special bond with the team, particularly with captain MS Dhoni.
CSK’s strong push for getting back Deepak Chahar in IPL 2025 auction
Notably, during the mega auction, Chahar’s name came up on Day 2, at a time when CSK had already spent most of their available purse, leaving them with just INR 13 crore. Despite their financial constraints, CSK made a strong push to retain Chahar, bidding up to INR 9 crore. However, the competition was intense, and Mumbai ultimately outbid CSK, securing Chahar for INR 9.25 crore.
Chahar expresses gratitude towards CSK
Chahar, aware of CSK’s limited funds, knew that it would be difficult for the franchise to retain him. He had hoped to continue his IPL journey with CSK, especially due to his special connection with the team and its captain MS Dhoni, who has been a significant support throughout his career. Despite the setback, Chahar expressed no hard feelings, understanding that the dynamics of the auction made it challenging for CSK to bring him back.
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Chahar was deeply touched by the fact that CSK, with only INR 13 crore remaining, still valued him enough to push their bid up to INR 9 crore. This act, he mentioned, reflected the strong bond he shared with the franchise. He credited MS Dhoni for his special connection with CSK, stating that it was because of Dhoni’s unwavering support from the very beginning that he wanted to stay with the team. He appreciated the effort CSK made to bring him back, acknowledging that while he knew it was a tough challenge due to the financial situation, their continued interest in him spoke volumes about their trust and respect for his contributions to the team over the years.
“Mahi bhai has supported me from the start, that’s why I wanted to go to CSK. But my name came on the second day at the auction, so I had a fair idea that it would be difficult for me to get back to CSK. They had a low purse, but still bid till ₹9 crore despite having only ₹13 crore left,” Chahar told SportsTak.
“I had made up my mind that it would be difficult. Last year, my name came first, that’s why it was easier to get back to CSK,” he added.
Chahar’s impact at CSK
During his tenure with CSK, Chahar became a key figure in their bowling attack. His ability to bowl fiery spells in the powerplay overs was crucial to the team’s success, contributing significantly to CSK’s three IPL title wins in 2018, 2021, and 2023. Over his 76 matches with the franchise, Chahar took 76 wickets, establishing himself as one of the league’s most dependable pacers.