The 9.25 crore Deepak Chahar problem: Why MI must find trade solution before IPL mini auction

MI's biggest problem for IPL 2026 [Source: AFP Photo]

The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 retention list is out and all ten sides have revealed the players they want to keep for the next season, with the unwanted players shipped out. As per the IPL rules, despite the retention deadline being done and dusted, the teams are still allowed to trade players, as the window is open, and will close a week before the IPL mini auction.

One team that had an interesting retention was the Mumbai Indians. The side managed to keep their core members for the next season, and were also involved in a couple of trade deals, but there was one mistake that the team made during the retention day.

The side has a purse of 2.75 crore remaining for the mini auction next month, and the purse would have been more had they released Deepak Chahar as well.

The Deepak Chahar problem MI needs to solve

MI bought Chahar for 9.25 crore in the IPL 2025 mega auction, and the move turned out to be a baffling decision from the franchise. Chahar has had a history of injuries, and the franchise invested nearly 10 crores on him.

Moreover, his performances in the last two IPL seasons indicate that Chahar is past his prime, and the team should invest in a better and younger pacer.

(Chahar in last two IPL seasons)

• As the stats depict, in the last two IPL seasons, Chahar has only picked up 16 wickets, and the economy rate has also shot up since the 2024 campaign.
• The average has also gone up since the 2024 season and Chahar has looked a pale shadow of his former self in the last couple of seasons.
• Hence, paying 9.25 crore for Chahar seems like a strange MI move, and maybe a trade deal could still be on the cards before the window closes.

The Bumrah effect that could prompt MI to trade him

• Mumbai Indians’ three main pacers in the squad are Jasprit Bumrah, Deepak Chahar, and Trent Boult. On paper, the attack looks threatening, but on the field, two of the three pacers are injury-prone. Chahar has a long list of injuries that he has suffered in the past, and Bumrah is also someone who has been dealing with back issues in the last few years.
• Boult is a guaranteed starter, Bumrah is arguably the best in the business, and hence, Chahar should be on MI’s radar as the franchise cannot have two injury-prone bowlers in the team.
• If any team is interested in Chahar, MI should capitalise on him, and get a fitter and a younger option before the next season. Plus, with Shardul Thakur in the MI squad, the team already has someone who can do the same job as Chahar.

Conclusion

MI doesn’t have to tinker with their squad in the IPL mini auction, but they have the Deepak Chahar issue that the side needs to rectify. The franchise cannot keep multiple injury-prone players in the squad, and if a suitable trade deal comes, MI should immediately jump and cash in on him.

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