In a stunning turn of events at the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 Mega Auction, star pacer Deepak Chahar, renowned for his role in Chennai Super Kings (CSK) success, was snapped up by Mumbai Indians (MI) for an impressive INR 9.25 crore. Chahar’s shift to MI has left CSK fans shocked and emotional, as the bowler had become a symbol of consistency and reliability for the franchise. Social media was abuzz with reactions, highlighting the bittersweet sentiments of fans who were both grateful for Chahar’s contributions to CSK and disappointed to see him move to a rival team.

Deepak Chahar’s IPL journey under MS Dhoni

Chahar’s IPL journey began with the Rising Pune Supergiant (RPS), where he made his mark before joining CSK in 2018 following RPS’s dissolution. Under the leadership of MS Dhoni, Chahar blossomed into one of the most dependable bowlers in the league, excelling in powerplay overs with his swing and precision. Chahar’s standout season came in 2019, where he claimed 22 wickets in 17 matches at an economical rate of 7.47, playing a pivotal role in CSK’s march to the final.

While his performances have been exemplary, injuries have occasionally hindered his career. In 2022, a right quadriceps injury ruled him out of the IPL season, and fitness issues limited his appearances in 2024 to just eight games, during which he managed to claim five wickets. Despite these challenges, Chahar’s knack for delivering breakthroughs remained evident.  Since debuting in the IPL in 2016, Chahar has featured in 81 matches, claiming 77 wickets at an economy rate of 7.98. Known for his ability to exploit swing in the powerplay, Chahar has two four-wicket hauls to his name, showcasing his ability to dominate opposition batting lineups.

Also READ: Netizens react as Bhuvneshwar Kumar goes to Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) for a whopping price at IPL 2025 mega auction

A high-stakes bidding war between CSK and MI in the mega auction

Day 2 of the IPL 2025 Mega Auction saw Chahar emerge as one of the most sought-after players, with fierce bidding between franchises. Starting at a base price of INR 2 crore, Mumbai entered the fray early, with Punjab Kings (PBKS) quickly joining the battle. The bidding reached a crescendo as the price climbed to INR 7.75 crore, prompting a late but determined entry from CSK, who bid INR 8 crore to try and retain their prized bowler.

What followed was an intense tug-of-war between CSK and MI, with the latter staying resolute. Mumbai eventually secured Chahar for a final bid of INR 9.25 crore, a record-breaking amount for the pacer. The acquisition makes MI the third IPL franchise for Chahar, after his stints with RPS and CSK, and reflects their commitment to strengthening their pace attack ahead of the 2025 season.

Here’s how fans reacted:

Deepak Chahar getting Ruturaj Gaikwad out at Wankhede and celebrating with MI crowd.

This is going to be tough to watch.

— Silly Point (@FarziCricketer) November 25, 2024

Can’t imagine Deepak Chahar wearing MI jersey bowling against CSK

— Sushant Mehta (@SushantNMehta) November 25, 2024

Streets won’t forget you, Deepak Chahar thank you for everything 💛 pic.twitter.com/8LjZXpMgZs

— Bhuvan (@bhuvanChari007) November 25, 2024

Thank you Deepak Chahar, forever grateful for your heroics from 2018-21 💔 pic.twitter.com/yJJO5yaifk

— Beast (@Beast__07_) November 25, 2024

Thankyou for everything, Deepak Chahar.

You’ll always be an all time CSK legend💛
~Best wishes, Don’t take wickets for MI😾#IPLAuction2025 | #DeepakChahar pic.twitter.com/6y14yNNGpe

— Hustler (@HustlerCSK) November 25, 2024

2️⃣0️⃣1️⃣8️⃣ – 2️⃣4️⃣
The Yellove is forever! Godspeed Chahar! 💛💪#SuperAuction pic.twitter.com/cIiUuiCh8T

— Chennai Super Kings (@ChennaiIPL) November 25, 2024

May be the next mega auction or its never.💔

-Thank u for your beautiful 7 years services, @deepak_chahar9 forever our yellow blood.💛 pic.twitter.com/5xxjxc6NHr

— 𝐀𝐝𝐢𝐭𝐲𝐚𝐌𝐒𝐃𝐢𝐚𝐧™ (@EpicDhoni) November 25, 2024

Go well buddy💛
It will be kinda hard to not see you in yellow jersey this summer. I will miss you and your weak a$$ hamstring a lot🫶🫶 pic.twitter.com/LGWbhRrM3A

— Titu (@TituTweets_) November 25, 2024

We will miss you in Yellove Cherry 💔#IPLAuction #WhistlePodu #CSK pic.twitter.com/jRWvp4iwV4

— WhistlePodu Army ® – CSK Fan Club (@CSKFansOfficial) November 25, 2024

So he is never coming back in yellow after this😣 pic.twitter.com/yQXZkOHZ9G

— ` (@bdrijalab) November 25, 2024

Also READ: The ‘Silent Tiebreaker’ rule in IPL 2025 mega auctions: What it means for teams and players?

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