File image of leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal, who will be seen in the Punjab Kings jersey in IPL 2025 (AFP Photo)

NEW DELHI: Leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal‘s mega deal in the Indian Premier League (IPL) auction has surprised many, but Punjab Kings will have their reasons for going big on the wrist-spinner and bagging him for a head-spinning price of Rs 18 crore.
Chahal, who is IPL’s highest wicket-taker and the only one to have taken over 200 wickets (205) in the league, was not retained by Rajasthan Royals.
After spending Rs 26.75 crore to bring Shreyas Iyer to the Punjab camp, Chahal and Arshdeep are the next two on the team’s most-expensive list at Rs 18 crore each.

PUNJAB NEEDED AN EXPERIENCED SPINNER
With the uncapped Praveen Dubey the only other specialist spinner in Punjab’s 25-member squad, they needed someone of the experience of Chahal. Punjab have spin options in all-rounders Harpreet Brar and Glenn Maxwell, but none who can match the game-changing ability that Chahal brings to the table. The money spent could prove well worth it in the end.
RASHID KHAN’S RECORD BROKEN
Chahal’s Rs 18-crore pay-cheque broke the record for a spinner, which until this mega auction stood in the name of Afghanistan star Rashid Khan, who was bought for Rs 9 core by Sunrisers Hyderabad in 2018. Chahal went for double that price. In between Sri Lanka’s Wanindu Hasaranga, who was listed as an all-rounder and bowls leg-spin, fetched Rs 10.75 crore from Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in 2022.
Chennai Super Kings were the first to raise the paddle for Chahal in Jeddah, before it eventually turned into an intense battle between Punjab and Lucknow Super Giants. The leg-spinner’s former employers RCB and Sunrisers Hyderabad also showed interest for a while before opting out of the race.

THE DEAL SET ANOTHER RECORD
Besides becoming the most expensive spinner, Chahal also earned the tag of joint most expensive Indian bowler in the IPL alongside Arshdeep Singh, who was bought back by Punjab for Rs 18 crore as well.