Cr3+→Ln3+ energy transfer (Ln = Nd or Yb) is investigated for the first time in Al2O3 host. Intense near infrared (NIR) emission around 1 μm is obtained as a result of this energy transfer. Excitation covers wide range in the visible region due to broad bands around 413 and 556 nm characteristic of Cr3+. Nd3+→Yb3+ energy transfer can extend the excitation spectrum well into NIR region. However, though overall emission intensity is higher, emission gets distributed between Nd3+ and Yb3+. It is suggested that Al2O3:Cr,Nd/Yb phosphors can be useful for applications like solar pumped lasers and downshifting layers for copper indium gallium selenide (CIGS) solar cells.