Deepak Chahar is an Indian international cricketer who plays for the India national cricket team in limited-overs formats. A right-arm medium-fast bowler known for his ability to swing the new ball, he plays domestic first-class cricket for Rajasthan and represents the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the Indian Premier League (IPL).
Key facts
| Full name | Deepak Lokendrasingh Chahar |
|---|---|
| Born | 7 August 1992, Agra, Uttar Pradesh, India |
| Role | Right-arm medium-fast bowler; lower-order batter |
| Batting | Right-handed |
| Bowling | Right-arm medium-fast (swing) |
| Domestic team | Rajasthan |
| IPL team | Chennai Super Kings |
| International debut (T20I) | 2018, against Sri Lanka |
| International debut (ODI) | 2018, against Afghanistan (Asia Cup) |
| Family | Cousin of cricketer Rahul Chahar |
Background
Deepak Chahar was born in Agra and was raised in a family with strong sporting interests. His father, Lokendra Chahar, a former Indian Air Force officer, took an active role in coaching him during his formative years. Deepak moved through age-group cricket in Rajasthan, where he was eventually selected for the senior state side.
Domestic career
Chahar made his first-class debut for Rajasthan in the 2010–11 Ranji Trophy season. In his debut match against Hyderabad at Jaipur, he produced a notable performance with the new ball, taking a substantial haul of wickets and conceding very few runs, which drew wide attention to him as a promising swing bowler. He has remained a regular feature of Rajasthan's domestic line-up across the Ranji Trophy, Vijay Hazare Trophy and Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy.
Indian Premier League
Chahar entered the IPL with the Rising Pune Supergiant before being signed by the Chennai Super Kings, where he established himself as a leading new-ball bowler. He has been one of CSK's primary powerplay specialists, repeatedly opening the bowling and using swing under captains M. S. Dhoni and Ruturaj Gaikwad. He was part of the CSK squads that won IPL titles during his tenure with the franchise.
International career
Chahar made his Twenty20 International debut for India in 2018 and his One Day International debut later the same year during the Asia Cup. He became prominent in T20Is in 2019 when, in a match against Bangladesh at Nagpur during a tri-bilateral series, he recorded a hat-trick and finished with figures of six wickets for seven runs—at the time the best bowling figures in men's T20 International cricket.
In ODIs, he is remembered for an all-round performance against Sri Lanka in Colombo in July 2021, in which he took three wickets and then made a match-winning unbeaten contribution with the bat in the lower order. He has been a regular member of India's white-ball squads when fit, though injuries—particularly back and hamstring problems—have at times kept him out of the side for extended periods.
Style of play
Chahar is best known for swinging the new ball both ways at brisk medium-fast pace, which makes him especially effective in the powerplay overs of limited-overs cricket. He bowls a full length to attack the stumps and uses subtle changes of pace and a well-disguised slower ball at the death. He is also a capable lower-order batter who has played several useful cameos for both club and country.
Personal life
Chahar is part of a cricketing family; his cousin Rahul Chahar is a leg-spinner who has also represented India. His sister, Malti Chahar, is active in the entertainment industry. Deepak married Jaya Bhardwaj in 2022.
Significance
Chahar is considered one of India's most accomplished new-ball swing bowlers in white-ball cricket of his generation. His T20I figures against Bangladesh remain among the best individual bowling performances in the format, and his consistent powerplay returns for Chennai Super Kings have made him a fixture of IPL discussions on swing bowling and powerplay tactics.
Related topics
- Chennai Super Kings
- India national cricket team
- Rajasthan cricket team
- Indian Premier League
- Rahul Chahar
- Ranji Trophy
- List of Twenty20 International cricket hat-tricks
References
- Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) – player profiles.
- International Cricket Council (ICC) – player records and statistics.
- ESPNcricinfo – Deepak Chahar player profile and match records.
- Indian Premier League – official team and player records, Chennai Super Kings.