Rahul Chahar

Rahul Desraj Chahar
Born	4 August 1999 Bharatpur, Rajasthan, India
Nationality	Indian
Education
Occupation	Cricketer (Leg-spin Bowler)
Years active	2016–present
Known for	Indian International Cricketer, IPL Player
Parents	Desraj Chahar, Usha Devi Chahar
Spouse	Ishani (m. 2022)
Instagram	Instagram
Website

Rahul Desraj Chahar (born 4 August 1999) is an Indian cricketer known for his leg-spin bowling. He represents Rajasthan in domestic cricket and plays for Sunrisers Hyderabad in the Indian Premier League (IPL). He made his international debut for India in August 2019 and quickly became recognised for his variations, control, and composure under pressure.

Early Life and Personal Life

Rahul was born into a Hindu Jat family to Desraj Singh Chahar and Usha Chahar. His paternal uncle, Lokendra Singh Chahar, who is also a cricket coach, played a significant role in training both Rahul and his cousin Deepak Chahar, an established Indian international cricketer. Inspired by Deepak, Rahul began playing cricket at the age of eight.

Rahul initially trained as a fast bowler but later discovered his aptitude for leg spin, which soon became his primary skill. His family has strong ties to sports and entertainment—his cousin Malti Chahar is a Bollywood actress.

Rahul got engaged to his long-time girlfriend Ishani in 2019, and the couple married in March 2022.

Domestic Career

Rahul made his first-class debut for Rajasthan on 5 November 2016 in the Ranji Trophy. He went on to make his List A debut during the 2016–17 Vijay Hazare Trophy on 25 February 2017.

His IPL journey began when Rising Pune Supergiant picked him up in the 2017 auction. He made his T20 debut soon after, on 8 April 2017. The following year, the Mumbai Indians acquired him in the 2018 IPL auction, where he delivered several impactful performances.

Rahul emerged as Rajasthan’s leading wicket-taker in the 2018–19 Vijay Hazare Trophy, securing 20 wickets in nine matches. His domestic success earned him selections in India C for the Deodhar Trophy and India Green for the Duleep Trophy.

In February 2022, he was signed by Punjab Kings for the IPL 2022 season before later joining Sunrisers Hyderabad.

International Career

In July 2019, Rahul earned his first call-up to the Indian senior team when he was selected for India’s Twenty20 International (T20I) squad for the series against the West Indies. This selection came as recognition of his consistent performances in domestic cricket and the IPL, where his controlled leg-spin and ability to bowl in pressure situations stood out. Rahul made his T20I debut on 6 August 2019, marking an important milestone as he joined the growing pool of young spinners representing India on the global stage.

After his initial international exposure, Rahul continued to remain on the radar of the national selectors. In January 2021, he was named as one of the five standby players in India’s Test squad for the home series against England, showcasing the team management’s trust in his long-format potential. A month later, he was officially drafted into the main squad ahead of the first Test, giving him valuable experience training with senior players and being part of high-intensity international preparations.

His progress continued steadily, and in June 2021, Rahul received another major opportunity when he was included in India’s One Day International (ODI) squad for the series against Sri Lanka. He went on to make his ODI debut on 23 July 2021, displaying his skills in the 50-over format and further strengthening his credentials as a multi-format spinner capable of adapting to different conditions and match situations.

Later that year, Rahul achieved one of the biggest highlights of his career when he was named in India’s squad for the prestigious 2021 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. His inclusion in the global tournament reflected the faith of the selectors in his wicket-taking abilities, temperament, and readiness to perform on the world stage. Although he featured in limited opportunities, being part of a World Cup squad marked a significant step forward in his international journey.

References

• “Ranji Trophy : Rajasthan vs Jammu and Kashmir – Rahul Chahar takes 9-wicket haul.” Indian Express. Retrieved 22 November 2025.
• “Big Brother, Little Brother: The Chahars’ India Dream.” Cricbuzz.Retrieved 22 November 2025.
• “IPL 2019: MI vs CSK – Pandya, Chahar brothers shine.” Sportstar – The Hindu.Retrieved 22 November 2025.
• “India cricketer Rahul Chahar gets engaged to long-time girlfriend; see photos.” CricketCountry.Retrieved 22 November 2025.
• “In Pictures: Rahul Chahar ties the knot with Ishani Johar in a grand wedding ceremony in Goa.”Sportskeeda.Retrieved 22 November 2025.
• “Rahul Chahar ties the knot with fiancée Ishani in destination wedding in Goa.” SportsTiger. Retrieved 22 November 2025.
• “Ranji Trophy 2016–17: Rajasthan vs Odisha – Full Scorecard.”ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 22 November 2025.
• “List of Players Sold and Unsold at IPL Auction 2017.”ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 22 November 2025.