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The cricket world is set on fire IPL 2026 Mini AuctionBut among the many big names and international stars, it’s a 19-year-old from Rajasthan who is stealing headlines and breaking records. Chennai Super Kings(CSK) – known for his shrewd acquisitions – made a bold move to spend a staggering Rs 14.2 crore for the wicketkeeper-batsman Kartik Sharmamaking him the most expensive uncapped player in IPL history. The life-changing sum was not only significantly more than his base price of Rs 30 lakh, but also heralded the arrival of a potential future superstar.
Uncapped Sensation: Who is Kartik Sharma?
Born on April 26, 2006, Kartik is a right-handed wicketkeeper-batsman who hails from the vibrant cricketing landscape of Rajasthan. At just 19 years old, his aggressive batting style and especially his penchant for breaking through the ropes have already earned him a formidable reputation in domestic circles. Before the auction, he was a name whispered by scouts, but after the auction, he was a name on every fan’s lips. His journey from the local arena to the big stage of IPL is a testament to his talent, hard work and perhaps destiny.
Auction frenzy: CSK’s bold bid
Katic’s bidding war was arguably the most intriguing part of the mini-auction. Starting from his modest base price of Rs 30 lakh, teams like Mumbai Indians, Lucknow Supergiants and Kolkata Knight Riders, recognizing the untapped potential, soon joined the fray. Competition has intensified as prices soared to the Rs 5-crore mark. It’s a tight battle between Chennai Super Kings and Sunrisers Hyderabad, with both teams determined to vie for the young talent. In the end, CSK, backed by its tactical acumen, persevered and sealed the deal for a jaw-dropping Rs 1,420 crore. The move demonstrates CSK’s continued belief in developing young, explosive Indian talent, a strategy that has often paid dividends for the Yellow Army.
Also read: IPL 2026 auction: Complete list of sold players and their prices
Key Facts About Kartik
- Kartik hails from the Bharatpur district of Rajasthan.
- His father, Manoj Sharma, was a school teacher who quit his job more than a decade ago to focus entirely on training Kartik. His mother Radha was an anganwadi worker.
- In the 2024-25 season, he achieved great success in red-ball cricket by scoring 113 runs on his Ranji Trophy debut against Uttarakhand for Rajasthan.
- He became the third Indian to score centuries on both first-class and Group A debuts.
- At the age of five, his father took him to the academy run by Lokendra Singh Chahar (Lokendra Singh Chahar’s father) for training. deepak and Rahul Chahal) in Agra.
- He was signed by CSK for Rs 14.20 million, setting a record with his teammates for the highest price paid for an uncapped Indian player so far. Prashant Veer.
