Chennai Super Kings finally found their experienced leg spinner at the auction. They picked up Rahul Chahar for ₹5.20 crore after an interesting bidding process. The 26-year-old brings proven IPL experience to his new team. His IPL Price 2026 reflects CSK’s faith in his abilities.
IPL Price: From Unsold to Million Dollar Deal
Rahul Chahar entered the auction with a ₹1 crore base price initially set. Nobody raised their paddle when his name came up first. His name sat there watching other players get picked before him. That must have felt uncomfortable for the experienced bowler honestly.
Then, the Chennai Super Kings made their move in the accelerated round. The IPL team saw value that others missed earlier surprisingly. The amount jumped quickly to ₹5.20 crore within minutes. CSK knows quality spinners when they see one clearly.
His Journey Through Different Franchises
Rahul Chahar started his IPL career with Mumbai Indians years ago. He won two championship titles with the franchise in 2019 and 2020. Those early seasons saw him take 28 wickets for Mumbai brilliantly. The 2021 season brought more success with 13 wickets as the second-highest taker.
Punjab Kings signed him next but things didn’t work out well there. His performance declined over three seasons with that IPL team unfortunately. Sunrisers Hyderabad took a chance on him for the 2025 season recently. He bowled alongside Adam Zampa as their specialist leg spinner option.
The Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2025-2026 showed mixed results for Rahul though. He grabbed 6 wickets in 8 matches with an 8.70 economy rate. Not spectacular but experience matters more sometimes in pressure situations.
What He Brings to the IPL Team
Rahul Chahar has played 79 IPL matches throughout his entire career now. He’s grabbed 75 wickets at a 7.72 economy rate in those games. International cricket saw him play six T20Is and one ODI match too. Those 10 international wickets prove he doesn’t crumble under pressure situations.
CSK desperately needed experienced spin bowling options for their 2026 squad honestly. The franchise lost key players before the auction started this year. The IPL salary of ₹5.20 crore makes sense considering what he’s achieved before.
Rahul Chahar’s wicket-taking skills in the middle overs could change games completely. He gets another chance to prove himself at the biggest stage.
