From representing Haryana at U‑14 level in 2000 to becoming India's T20I wicket‑taking spearhead and a T20 World Cup champion in 2024, Chahal's journey is built on loyalty to state and country – not on rewards. Yet, while others from Haryana have been publicly rewarded for recent World Cup success, his own contribution and historic milestones remain largely unrecognised by his home government.
Despite being a World Cup winning bowler and leading IPL wicket‑taker, Haryana has not matched his achievements with proportional state‑level honours or cash rewards – even when other World Cup winners from the state have been rewarded recently.
Competitive sport at a professional level began early, when he turned out for Haryana in the National U‑14 tournament – a first step in a two‑decade‑long commitment to the state's cricket ecosystem.
In parallel with cricket, he became National Chess Champion, earning a rare distinction of leading the country in another sport while still a teenager and placing both Haryana and India firmly on the international chess map.
Representing India at the World Youth Chess Championship in Greece, he carried his state and country colours in an entirely different arena, proving early that world‑class temperament does not depend on format.
In 2011, he was recognised as the best all‑rounder for the India U‑19 side, showing equal impact with bat and ball and cementing his status as a complete cricketer in the national youth setup.
Selection in the IPL marked a turning point, as he consistently delivered for his franchises and eventually became the first bowler ever to reach 200 wickets in the tournament and then move past 205 wickets – the highest tally in IPL history.
In 2016, he realised the dream of every young cricketer from Haryana – walking out for India in international cricket and immediately becoming a key limited‑overs weapon through control, variations and fearless leg‑spin.
Since 2016, he has been a regular match‑winner in T20Is, ODIs, and the IPL, while continuing to represent Haryana with pride and inspire young players from the state in both cricket and chess.
| Format | Matches | Innings | Runs | Highest Score | Avg | Strike Rate | 50s/100s | Not Outs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ODI | 72 | 14 | 77 | 18 | 8.56 | 54.61 | 0/0 | 5 |
| T20I | 80 | 6 | 6 | 13 | 3.00 | 46.16 | 0/0 | 4 |
| First-Class (India) | 34 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | 0/0 | -- |
| First-Class (County) | 10 | -- | -- | 41* | 9.67 | -- | 0/0 | -- |
| List A (India) | 138 | -- | -- | 41* | 10.82 | -- | 0/0 | -- |
| List A (County) | 6 | -- | -- | 41* | -- | -- | 0/0 | -- |
| IPL (T20) | 174 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| Format | Matches | Innings | Balls | Runs | Wickets | Avg | Econ | S/R | Best | 5W |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ODI | 72 | 69 | 3739 | 3283 | 121 | 27.13 | 5.27 | 30.9 | 6/42 | 2 |
| T20I | 80 | 79 | 1764 | 2409 | 96 | 25.09 | 8.19 | 18.38 | 6/25 | 1 |
| IPL | 174 | 172 | 3791 | 5032 | 221 | 22.77 | 7.96 | 17.15 | 5/40 | 1 |
| First-Class (India) | 34 | -- | -- | -- | 87 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| List A (India) | 138 | -- | 7134 | 5759 | 222 | 25.59 | -- | -- | 6/24 | 6 |
| First-Class (County) | 10 | -- | -- | -- | 40 | -- | -- | -- | 6/118 | 1+ |
| List A (County) | 6 | -- | -- | -- | 3 | 50.50 | 5.41 | -- | 3/30 | 0 |
After the 2024 T20 World Cup win, another World Cup–winning player from Haryana received a high‑profile cash prize and public felicitation from the state government. In contrast, Chahal, despite being a world champion, IPL record‑holder and long‑serving Haryana player, has not been accorded similar recognition or a matching reward package.
Since 2000, he has represented Haryana and India with determination – from junior cricket to the IPL and World Cups – always carrying his state's identity with pride. His vision now is to channel that experience back into Haryana through coaching pathways, high‑quality training environments and mental‑skill development inspired by his chess background.
Recognising him properly at the state level would not only honour his personal sacrifice but also send a powerful message to every young boy and girl from Haryana – that if you give your best for the state and the nation, your own people will stand firmly behind you.
