Who is Kartik Sharma, joint-most expensive uncapped player in IPL history?
The Indian Premier League (IPL) has always been a platform for young and talented cricketers to showcase their skills and make a name for themselves. The IPL 2026 auction was no exception, with several uncapped players going under the hammer and fetching impressive sums. One such player is Kartik Sharma, a 19-year-old wicketkeeper-batter from Rajasthan, who was bought by the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) for a whopping ₹14.2 crore. This makes him the joint-most expensive uncapped player in IPL history.
Kartik Sharma has been hailed as ‘Rajasthan’s six-hitting machine’ due to his incredible ability to clear the boundary with ease. The right-hander has already made a name for himself in domestic cricket, playing eight first-class, nine List A, and 12 T20 matches. In these matches, he has scored a total of 1,258 runs, showcasing his impressive batting skills. However, it’s his strike rate of 162.92 in T20 cricket that has caught the attention of IPL teams and fans alike.
So, who is Kartik Sharma, and what makes him so special? Born and brought up in Rajasthan, Kartik started playing cricket at a young age and quickly rose through the ranks. He made his first-class debut for Rajasthan in 2022 and has since been a regular member of the team. His impressive performances in domestic cricket have earned him a reputation as a hard-hitting batsman who can take the game away from the opposition.
Kartik’s batting style is aggressive, to say the least. He loves to take on the bowlers from the word go, using his quick feet and powerful strokes to dispatch the ball to all parts of the ground. His favorite shot is the six, and he has already hit a significant number of them in his short career. This ability to clear the boundary with ease has made him a fan favorite, and his exploits on the field have been widely followed on social media.
The CSK team management would have surely done their homework before bidding for Kartik Sharma at the IPL 2026 auction. The team has a history of identifying and nurturing young talent, and they would be hoping that Kartik can replicate his domestic form in the IPL. With the likes of MS Dhoni and Stephen Fleming in the CSK dugout, Kartik will have the perfect mentors to guide him and help him improve his game.
Kartik’s signing is also a testament to the CSK team’s commitment to investing in young Indian players. The team has always had a strong core of Indian players, and they would be hoping that Kartik can be a part of this core for years to come. With his impressive batting skills and aggressive mindset, Kartik has the potential to be a game-changer for CSK in the upcoming season.
The IPL 2026 season is still a few months away, but the excitement is already building up. With the likes of Kartik Sharma and other young players joining the fray, the tournament promises to be an exciting and unpredictable one. Fans would be eagerly waiting to see how Kartik performs on the big stage, and whether he can live up to the hype surrounding him.
In conclusion, Kartik Sharma is a talented young cricketer who has already made a name for himself in domestic cricket. His impressive batting skills and aggressive mindset have caught the attention of IPL teams and fans alike, and he would be hoping to make a big impact in the upcoming season. With the CSK team behind him, Kartik has the perfect platform to showcase his skills and take his career to the next level.
News source: https://www.espncricinfo.com/auction/ipl-2026-auction-1515016/live-updates
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