On paper, the Mumbai Indians (MI) have built one of the best pace attacks. They bought 18 players at the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 mega auction but almost half of their purse at the event went to acquire two pacers, Trent Boult and Deepak Chahar. While Boult rejoined for Rs 12.50 crore, Chahar sneaked away from CSK for Rs 9.25 crore. This duo, in addition to Jasprit Bumrah, will form one of the most threatening troika of pacers in IPL 2025.
Jasprit Bumrah needs Deepak Chahar at IPL 2025
But Jasprit Bumrah will be coming on the back of tiresome action in the Borde-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) and presumably a full-fledged ICC Champions Trophy. He is already the most worked pacer in the current Indian setup and has either batted or bowled in each day in the ongoing BGT. But now, with one pacer struggling to find the best of his forms, India and the Mumbai Indians (MI) fans would be worried if he’s overbowled in IPL 2025 as well. Why would he? Well, the answer could be Deepak Chahar and his worrying form.
Deepak Chahar, please find form quickly
No, Chahar isn’t getting bludgeoned in every match. In fact, he is getting wickets or less in most of the games for Rajasthan in domestic cricket but the quality of a Rs 9+ crore pacer isn’t just there. He hasn’t set the stage on fire. Neither in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT) nor in the Vijay Hazare Trophy (VHT). While Chahar has taken five wickets in as many games in the ongoing VHT, he ranks below 40 among all the bowlers on the list.
Being a powerplay bowler who is as good as anyone when he takes a wicket early on, Chahar diminishes his chances of bowling at the right areas when he fails to get one. His death-bowling exploits are ever-evolving and Paras Mhambrey, the new bowling coach, will have to work on that. While Chahar has taken a wicket in almost every game, he has averaged 38.28, making him rank 201 on the list so far. With the bat, he isn’t enjoying success either. In SMAT, the former CSKian made 39 runs at 13.00, and now in VHT, he has made 36 at 18.00.
Bumrah has lacked quality partners at other ends ever since Trent Boult left in 2021. He has had to do the bulk of the damage and now having superb talents alongside him, even he would admit he needs some backing. But Chahar has not much to contribute if he fails to counter opposition batting within powerplay overs. At 35, Boult isn’t growing younger as well. Hence, to have a solid IPL 2025 is paramount for Chahar, who has been struggling in recent times.
Deepak Chahar stats in Vijay Hazare Trophy 2024
| Match | Date | Spell |
| 108th VHT vs RLYS | 3 Jan | 2-77 |
| 90th VHT vs SER | 31 Dec | 2-49 |
| 52nd VHT vs HP | 26 Dec | 2-51 |
| 33rd VHT vs ANDR | 23 Dec | 1-70 |
| 16th VHT vs MAH | 21 Dec | 0-21 |
- Wickets: 7
- Innings: 5
- Economy Rate: 5.70
- Strike Rate: 40.00
Deepak Chahar stats in SMAT 2024
| Match | Date | Spell |
| 118th T20 vs BEN | 5 Dec | 0-30 |
| 103rd T20 vs PUN | 3 Dec | 2-30 |
| 75th T20 vs MP | 1 Dec | 1-29 |
| 46th T20 vs HYD | 27 Nov | 1-35 |
| 21st T20 vs MIZ | 25 Nov | 0-33 |
| 13th T20 vs BIHR | 23 Nov | 2-19 |
- Wickets: 6
- Innings: 6
- Economy Rate: 7.33
- Strike Rate: 24.00
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