Introduction:
In a cricket universe, every cricketer has their fair share of story that defines their success. For Deepak Chahar, his journey has stories that go beyond the boundaries of the cricket pitch and expand into the world of entrepreneurship. As Chahar said himself cricket was more than a sport, for him, it was a dream and a passion nurtured by his beloved father.
His motto says “Go all in” because in life we often hesitate when it comes to pursuing our dreams and passion but it’s different in Chahar’s case, his father taught him to go beyond and above when one truly wants something from life. Chahar’s passion for cricket began by watching, legends like Sachin Tendulkar and Ganguly, after that there was no looking back. In his journey as a cricketer, Chahar’s father and his coach Navendu Tyagi have made immense contributions. Deepak Chahar was determined to play for team India, on his first day of first-class cricket, Nov 1, 2010, he ran through the Hyderabad innings with an outstanding spell, 7.3-2-10-8.
When Deepak was 15, on the recommendation of bowling expert, Eric Simmons, he traveled to England with the Rajasthan team, however, he could not fit in the list of 20, which Greg Chappell had shortlisted for the Rajasthan Cricket Academy. Deepak was shattered inside but his father who was his strongest companion did not let the passion die in him. Following the event Chahar worked dedicatedly on his fitness, completely altered his daily routine, and became more disciplined. His father’s dedication to fulfilling Chahar’s dream was proven further when he gave up his job at IAF. Although some financial trouble was foreseen, there was hope for Chahar’s bright future.
Deepak expressed his desire to play Indian Premier League(IPL) on the first day of his Ranji Trophy and made his debut in IPL six years later for Rising Pune Supergiants. IPL 2024 has begun already and Chahar has come a long way, won 3 titles with Chennai Superkings in the last 5 years, and is widely known for his bowling prowess. It was in the 2023 IPL where the 31-year-old bagged 13 wickets, in 10 games reaffirming his indispensability to the Chennai-based franchise.
After making his name in cricket Deepak Chahar began his entrepreneurial journey with a fantasy gaming platform called, Trade Fantasy Game in March 2023. He is an explorer in sports and has always wanted to create his own identity and contribute to the world of sports in every possible way. Along with the fantasy gaming platform, he also launched a Made in India sports brand in September 2023, DNINE Sports. This is again connected to him personally as he remembered the struggles he faced when he started playing affording top-notch gear, was difficult for him and had to rely on economical options, which resulted in his injuries, so he wanted to create high-quality yet affordable cricket shoes. It doesn’t end here he also introduced a warranty policy and a three-month replacement policy for broken shoes, keeping in mind the financial constraints many budding players face. The brand has gained positive recognition, as there have been many brand endorsements in various sports events, as well as DNINE has also gained positive feedback from athletes. In this IPL Deepak Chahar has announced that he will be expanding his shoe business by launching new running shoes towards the end of the season.
It is a family-run business and will be headed by his father Lokendra Chahar, they have already invested an initial sum of Rs2.5 crore. Deepak’s aim is to make it a complete sports brand and has decided to further expand his brand by making sneakers and clothing to cater to a broader audience.
