IPL 2026 Auction: CSK Double Down on Uncapped Talent: Kartik Sharma Joins for ₹14.20 Crore. After acquiring Prashant Veer for a staggering ₹14.20 crore, CSK turned around and signed another uncapped Indian player, Kartik Sharma, for the same amount as well. By making these two buys, CSK has shown that they are serious about acquiring and nurturing new talent in Indian cricket.
These decisions, one after the other, were a surprise not only to the audience but also to the experts. CSK was seen to be very rarely aggressive at the auction for the uncapped players. While Prashant Veer was the most expensive uncapped player in IPL history, the price tag of Kartik Sharma, who was bought at the same price, made it even clearer that the franchise is ready to take a risk on the high-upside young cricketers who can be their long-term assets.
Kartik Sharma’s Domestic Performances Justify Big Price Tag
Kartik Sharma is a 19-year-old keeper-batter who hails from Rajasthan. He has been one of the most reliable players among the youngsters in the domestic cricket circuit. He is a right-handed middle-order batter who made his presence felt with a century on his Ranji Trophy debut against Uttarakhand, a performance that accelerated his promotion in the Rajasthan team.
He did not just stop there and went on to have a fantastic run in the Vijay Hazare Trophy. He was the top scorer of Rajasthan with 445 runs in eight innings at a strike rate of 118.03. With his regular batting spot at No. 4, Kartik displayed the maturity of an experienced player.
Also Read: IPL 2026 Auction: Prashant Veer Becomes Most Expensive Uncapped Player In IPL History
The same can be said for his performance in T20 cricket as well. During the course of two seasons in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, Kartik has amassed 334 runs in 11 innings at a strike rate of 162.92. He became even more popular after putting up an impressive show in the Sher-e-Punjab T20 League 2024. There, he scored 457 runs in 10 innings at a strike rate of 168.01. With the joining of Kartik Sharma and Prashant Veer, both for ₹14.20 crore, CSK has made it very clear that building a strong Indian core for the future is one of their IPL strategies.