CSK made Kartik Sharma the joint-most expensive uncapped player in the history of the IPL as they bought him for Rs. 14.2 Crore during the IPL 2026 auction. Chennai fended off interest from KKR and SRH in the end to secure the services of the 19-year-old from Rajasthan.
With his impeccable wicketkeeping skills and his lower-order batting, Kartik has drawn comparisons to MS Dhoni with many feeling that CSK are building towards a new era past the Indian legend.
IPL 2026 Auction updates
HOW CSK NABBED KARTIK SHARMA?
It was MI who started the bidding for Kartik Sharma before KKR joined in. LSG also quickly came in and pushed the bid well past the Rs. 5 Crore mark. CSK then jumped in, and they went at it with KKR and weren’t ready to lose it.
As it seemed like CSK were getting their man, SRH came in and pushed it close to the 14.2 crore mark, the money that CSK paid for Prashant Veer earlier in the auction.
WHO IS KARTIK SHARMA?
Kartik emerged as one of Rajasthan’s standout contributors during the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy league phase, amassing 133 runs across five appearances while striking the ball at a blistering rate north of 160. That explosive scoring has been a consistent feature of his game, with the young batter sustaining a strike rate above 160 over his 12-match T20 career so far.
Kartik’s late surge has proved to be vital for Rajasthan during the ongoing SMAT, as they have went past the league stage and into the knockouts. However, Kartik won’t play a part in the knockouts as he suffered a finger injury.
During his T20 career so far, Kartik has hit 28 sixes, making him a key lower-order batter. His hitting has earned rave reviews from R Ashwin and Kevin Pietersen.
With the acquisition of Prashant Veer and Kartik, it does seem like CSK are going away from the tag of Dad’s army to a youthful one. They already acquired big-hitter Urvil Patel and South African star ewald Brevis mid-way through last season, where they finished last.
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Published On:
Dec 16, 2025
