Rahul Chahar reveals toughest batter he has bowled to, includes IPL winning captain [Exclusive]

Indian leg-spinner Rahul Chahar has revealed that Royal Challengers Bengaluru's skipper Rajat Patidar remains the toughest batter he has bowled to. Speaking in an exclusive interview with CricTracker, Chahar admitted that bowling to an IPL-winning captain like Patidar is a constant challenge. Against the current RCB skipper in T20s, the leggie has bowled 15 balls, conceded 34 runs, and has gotten the better of him twice. He further revealed two more names that he faces a challenge to bowl to.

The youngster was recently picked by Chennai Super Kings for INR 5.20 crore at the IPL 2026 auction after initially going unsold. Released by Sunrisers Hyderabad ahead of the auction, the leg-spinner now has a chance to revive his IPL career with the five-time champions.

During the interaction, Chahar also opened up on an interesting story involving his brother, Deepak Chahar. He shared how the siblings often competed fiercely during their early days, pushing each other to improve, and now will once again be part of the Mumbai-Chennai rivalry. It is worth noting that a few years back, the two brothers were part of the big rivalry when Deepak was part of the CSK camp, and Rahul was playing for the Mumbai-based team. On the topic of leg-spinners in India’s T20I setup, Chahar addressed whether the demand for wrist spinners like Yuzvendra Chahal, Ravi Bishnoi, and himself is fading.

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Excerpts

Who is the toughest batter to bowl at, and why?

As a spinner, I think Nicholas Pooran, Heinrich Klassen and, I think Rajat Patidar. He plays spinners very well. When he hits, he hits everywhere. He is difficult to bowl.

What’s one interesting story between you and your brother, Deepak Chahar, you would like to share?

There was one. Like, in the final of IPL 2019, I got out on his ball. So, he was teasing me a lot after getting out. So, I told him that if I get you out, I will tease you a lot. So, in 2020, I got him out. I didn't say anything But, after that, I teased him a lot. I always remember that. I said, brother, if I get you out once, I will take revenge.

Yuzvendra Chahal, Ravi Bishnoi, and Rahul Chahar - do you think the demand for leg spinners is slowly fading away in India’s T20I setup?

I think, yes, that distinction is fading a bit now. It’s no longer about needing only leg-spinners or a specific type of spinner. Whether it’s left-arm spinners, right-arm spinners, or quicker spinners, variation is what matters most. These days, it’s not just wrist spinners who can provide variation; there are many off-spinners who bowl carrom balls as well. That’s become very important. Ultimately, the goal is to save runs, and there must be variation. When batters line up for the stock delivery, bowlers need options. So now, whether you’re a wrist spinner or a finger spinner doesn’t really matter.