Deepak Chahar, a Mumbai Indians pacer, says three of his custom made cricket bats have been stolen from his father’s cricket academy. The incident came to light after Chahar reported it on social media and appealed to the people responsible to return the equipment.
The three bats were Player Edition models and had a total value of about Rs 1.5 lakh, Chahar said. He had visited his father's academy for a training session and put his cricket kit aside before starting a workout. When he returned about an hour later to retrieve his bat for batting practice, he discovered the equipment was missing.
Chahar highlighted the incident in a video on Instagram. The India international explained what was happening and made a direct appeal to the person who had taken the bats.
Deepak Chahar Appeals For Return Of Bats
Chahar said the stolen bats were specially made Player Edition models and were of particularly high quality. He said the person who took them may not have been aware of the actual value.
The three bats together were worth around Rs 1.5 lakh, so the result was a huge loss of specialist cricket equipment. Chahar took a rather light-hearted approach and appealed for their return.
The pacer suggested the bats may be sold or even used for tennis ball cricket. He also said he had a number of options available to recover the equipment: going to the police or getting help from influential people.
However, Chahar said he would prefer the bats to be returned. His appeal appeared to be an attempt to let the person who had taken the equipment return it without the issue becoming more heated.
The cricketer also said that his bat sponsor, SS, could provide replacement bats if needed. But he said he preferred to get back the original bats that had been specially prepared for him.
What happened at the Cricket Academy?
Chahar had apparently gone to his father's cricket academy for a training session. The academy is run by his father Lokendra Chahar and has been associated with the cricketer's development.
As soon as he arrived at the academy, Chahar set aside his cricket kit and went to work out. An hour later, when he was ready to begin batting practice, he came back and got his bat.
It was then that he noticed the equipment was missing. Three of his specially made bats were reportedly taken from the academy.
The cricketer subsequently shared details of the incident online. The video caught cricket fans' attention and Chahar's appeal became the focus of the social media post.
Deepak Chahar's India Career
Chahar has represented India in a variety of formats at international level. He has played 28 international matches and has taken 47 wickets in Tests, ODIs and T20Is according to the figures cited in the report.
His international career has not been good enough, however, with injury trouble. Only recently did he make it to India's last appearance in December 2023 but injuries and competition for places kept him out of the national team.
Chahar has remained active in domestic and franchise cricket. He represents Rajasthan at the domestic level and has continued to be in the Indian Premier League.
Deepak Chahar And Mumbai Indians
Chahar has been part of the Mumbai Indians setup over the last two IPL seasons. The franchise signed him ahead of the 2025 season and the Indian pace option is part of its squad.
Chahar took eight wickets in eight games in the previous IPL season. His performance in the tournament is very much part of his plan to keep his place among India’s experienced T20 players.
Chahar will be looking to stay fit and perform consistently in domestic and franchise cricket at 34. If he has a good IPL season then he could make a return to the team for the T20I game and selection will be based on team requirements and performance.
Viral video draws attention to bat theft.
The theft of specialist cricket equipment has been the focus as the bats are highly valued and specialized. Professional players often use bats that are customized according to their own preferences (weight, balance and other things they care about).
Chahar's decision to speak about the incident has also brought into focus the importance of keeping expensive sporting equipment secure. Although he could look into the matter in other ways, his first plea was for the bats to be returned.
At the moment the matter is centered around Chahar’s appeal and the search for the three Player Edition bats. The cricketer has made it clear that recovering the original equipment would be preferable, even though replacements might be made through his sponsor.
The incident has added an unusual off-field dimension to Chahar’s recent cricket journey. As he prepares for the upcoming domestic and IPL season, the India and Mumbai Indians pacer will also hope that his missing bats are returned.
