"He is a very underrated bowler" - Sanjay Bangar on former MI spinner ahead of IPL 2026 auction

Ahead of the IPL 2026 auction, former India player Sanjay Bangar has opined that Rahul Chahar is a very underrated bowler. He expressed hope that the Rajasthan Royals (RR) would acquire the former Mumbai Indians (MI) spinner at the auction.

Chahar was released by the SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH) ahead of the IPL 2026 auction. RR have released Wanindu Hasaranga, Maheesh Theekshana and Kumar Kartikeya, and might be looking to acquire spinners at the mini auction in Abu Dhabi on December 16.

Speaking on Star Sports, Bangar reflected on some of the wrist-spinners available at the IPL 2026 auction. As for Chahar, he said:

"Rahul Chahar has a lot of ability. He can stop a little and deliver the ball. He can bowl slow in the air, and he has a lot of experience as well. These qualities can prove advantageous for him, although he didn't get many opportunities in the last two places he played."

"He is a very underrated bowler. Whichever team he goes to, they will definitely gain. I believe he will go to the Rajasthan Royals because it's his home state as well, and the Rajasthan Royals need a spinner. So I would definitely want Rahul Chahar to go to RR," the former India all-rounder added.

Rahul Chahar has picked up 75 wickets at an economy rate of 7.72 in 79 IPL games. However, he played only one match in IPL 2025, going wicketless and conceding nine runs in the solitary over he bowled.

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"SRH need a player with that skill set" - Sanjay Bangar on Wanindu Hasaranga ahead of IPL 2026 auction

The Rajasthan Royals released Wanindu Hasaranga ahead of the IPL 2026 auction. [P/C: Getty]

On the same show, Sanjay Bangar opined that the SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH) might target Wanindu Hasaranga at the IPL 2026 auction.

"Hasaranga started with RCB. After that, there has been a slight dip in his form. He has the ability to bowl leg spin and wicket to wicket. SRH is a team where he can go because SRH need a player with that skill set," he said.

The former Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) head coach reckoned that the Hyderabad-based franchise might also look to acquire Ravi Bishnoi.

"He can be more useful on pitches where the ball stays slightly low. I feel he can go to SRH, and that team can benefit from his skill," Bangar observed.

Ravi Bishnoi has picked up 72 wickets at an economy rate of 8.22 in 77 IPL games. He accounted for nine dismissals, while conceding an average of 10.84 runs per over, in 11 matches for the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in IPL 2025.