IPL 2022 Auction: Never spoke to MS Dhoni about retention, knew CSK would get me back - Deepak Chahar

IPL 2022 Mega Auction: Deepak Chahar, who was bought back by CSK for a whopping sum of Rs 14 crore, said he never had a discussion with MS Dhoni or the CSK management but was confident that the 4-time champions would pick him up.

Chennai Super Kings and India fast bowler Deepak Chahar said he did not discuss retention with MS Dhoni or anyone else from the CSK management ahead of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 mega auction, adding that he was always confident that the 4-time champions would buy him back. Chahar became the most expensive Indian fast bowler at an IPL auction when CSK paid Rs 14 crore to secure the services of the India bowler on Day 1 of the mega auction on February 12.

Deepak Chahar was not retained by CSK as the Men in Yellow went for MS Dhoni, Ravindra Jadeja, Ruturaj Gaikwad and Moeen Ali as their 4 picks ahead of the auction. However, they broke the bank to buy back the fast bowler, who has been showcasing his bowling skills in the recent past as well.

IPL 2022 Auction: Day 2 Live Updates

Notably, CSK did not enter the race until the bidding went past Rs 10 crore. While Delhi Capitals and SunRisers Hyderabad were in race for the pacer, CSK made their first bid at Rs 11 crore before snapping up the player.

Deepak Chahar has been a dependable bowler for CSK as MS Dhoni has liked to use him in the powerplay overs. The Rajasthan pacer has more often than not responded to his captain's call, picking up 59 wickets in 63 matches since 2018 for CSK.

Revealing that he had spoken to former BCCI president N Srinivas and the CEO of CSK, Kasi Viswanathan in 2018, Chahar said he was assured that he would always play for CSK in the IPL.

"I am really happy to be back in Chennai Super Kings. I don't think there will be any difference. When I go back, I will be seeing the same faces over the last 4 years, maybe over the last 6 years because I was with the Pune side and half the players were there. I could not have asked for a better auction than this," Chahar told Star Sports on Sunday.