Teenage wicketkeeper-batter Kartik Sharma was left overwhelmed after Chennai Super Kings snapped him up to Rs 14.20 crore at the IPL 2026 mini auction in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday. This price tag has made him the joint-highest paid uncapped player in the league’s history alongside Uttar Pradesh’s Prashant Veer. Kartik entered the auction at a base price of Rs 30 lakh before a fast-moving bidding battle pushed his value into record territory.
“I started crying” as bids climbed
Recalling the moment, Kartik stated, “When the bidding started, I was scared I might miss out. But as the bid kept going up, I started crying.” He further added, “Even after it ended , I couldn’t stop. I was overwhelmed with emotion and happiness, I honestly don’t know how to put it into words,” as quoted by PTI.
The bidding for Kartik started with the Mumbai Indians and Lucknow Super Giants, before the Kolkata Knight Riders joined. MI later exited, whereas KKR and LSG took the price to Rs 2.80 crore before CSK made an entry. The contest intensified further, with the figure increasing to Rs 13.20 crore when KKR pulled out, and Sunrisers Hyderabad entered, before CSK eventually bagged the deal at Rs 14.20 crore.
All about Kartik Sharma
Kartik, as a 19-year old middle-order wicketkeeper-batter from Rajasthan, has built a strong domestic record. As per a report by Cricbuzz, he has hit a century on Ranji Trophy debut against Uttarakhand, and topped Rajasthan’s run charts in previous Vijay Hazare Trophy with 445 runs in eight innings (strike rate 118.03). He has 334 runs in 11 innings across two seasons of the Syed Mushtaq Trophy at a strike rate of 162.92. In his Sher-e-Punjab T20 stint in 2024, he has scored 457 runs in 10 innings at a strike rate of 168.01, as mentioned by Cricbuzz.
For Kartik, the payday is also related to a personal achievement. “A special thank you to all my family members and friends, without their support, I don’t think I would have reached this stage,” he stated as quoted by PTI. He is also looking ahead to his CSK stint, adding, “My entire family is very happy, everyone is celebrating and dancing. I am extremely excited to play alongside Mahendra Singh Dhoni and learn from him.”