“Mahi Bhai…” Deepak Chahar opens up after his exit from CSK at IPL 2025 Auction

Over 76 matches, Deepak Chahar amassed 76 wickets, establishing himself as a reliable and impactful fast bowler for CSK.

A career-changing moment came for many cricket players during the 2025 IPL mega auction in Jeddah, where 577 players were sold during two days of fierce bidding. A total of 639.15 crore were shelled out in the mega auction, with Rishabh Pant (Rs 27 cr) getting the most amount. One of the biggest moves was Deepak Chahar’s switch from Chennai Super Kings (CSK) to Mumbai Indians (MI), which ended an incredible seven-year tenure with the yellow brigade.

Deepak Chahar says bye to CSK

Chahar’s exit from CSK marks the end of a fruitful chapter in which he became a crucial member of the squad that won as many as three IPL titles. His powerplay bowling ability routinely destroyed opposing batting, which was a major factor in CSK’s IPL title wins in 2018, 2021, and 2023. Chahar established himself as a dependable new-ball bowler in the IPL by taking 76 wickets over 76 games. His economy of 7.91 is incredible too.

Deepak Chahar after his exit from CSK

Chahar’s move was made moving due to the emotional bond he shared with CSK, especially with former captain MS Dhoni. Chahar thanked Dhoni for his steadfast support during his term in an open interview. “Mahi bhai has supported me from the start,” he disclosed while speaking to cricket host Jatin Sapru on YouTube.

“That’s why I wanted to come here. 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 INR 9 crore despite a purse of INR 13 crore.”. Chahar highlighted that CSK showed how much they valued his abilities, even with his meagre salary. Incredible, after Day 1 of the IPL mega auction, CSK were left with just over Rs 15 crore in their bank. With that, they still had to fill up 13 slots. Hence, buying Chahar was touted to be a tough ask.

Ultimately, Chahar was picked up by CSK rivals Mumbai Indians (MI). Chahar’s ₹9.25 crore purchase by the Mumbai Indians is a calculated attempt to strengthen their bowling assault. Chahar, who has a plethora of expertise and the ability to win games, is well-known for his ability to strike early and limit runs. He, Jasprit Bumrah and Trent Boult would form a lethal pace attack!