‘Familial’ Rivals: Deepak-Rahul Chahar Grab Lunch Before IPL Final

In 2017, both Deepak and Rahul had been part of the same IPL squad with Rising Pune Supergiants.

Both the Chahar brothers – Rahul and Deepak – have been key to their franchises’ success this season.

(Photo: BCCI/IPL)

On Sunday, 12 May, as the sun sets down, a battle will begin. A battle between the best, a battle between strategy and instinct, a battle between yellow and blue, a battle between bat and ball.

Mumbai Indians will face off Chennai Super Kings for the fourth and final time this season in the IPL 2019 final at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Hyderabad.

However it will also be a battle between brothers as Deepak and Rahul Chahar face off against each other in the IPL final.

And just a few hours before they turn rivals on the field, the duo had a family lunch before the ‘El Clasico’ of IPL begins.

Elder brother, Deepak took to Instagram to post the image of the family alongside his younger sibling, Rahul.

“Family lunch before the final clash”, wrote the 26-year-old.

Both the Chahar brothers have been key to their franchises’ success this season.

While Deepak is fourth on the list for most wickets this IPL hast taken 19 wickets in 16 games for CSK, 19-year old right-arm leg spinner, Rahul has been clinical for MI with 12 wickets in same number of games.

Clearly the two have come a long way since playing gully cricket in Agra.

Their fathers are brothers and their mothers are sisters. Deepak's father, Lokendra Singh, used to work in the Indian Air Force and it was during his Jaipur posting that Deepak started playing professional cricket.

Rahul also aspired to become a pacer like his elder cousin, but it was Deepak's father who identified Rahul's ability to turn the ball sharply in the nets and encouraged him to become a legs-spinner.

In 2017, the two had been part of the same IPL squad with Rising Pune Supergiants. But while Deepak again struggled with injuries, Rahul was starved of game time.

So amidst the battle of ‘fourth’ between Mumbai and Chennai, it would be interesting to see what comes out on top, spin or swing.

(With inputs from IANS)