Wicketkeeper Kartik Sharma was snapped up by Chennai Super Kings for Rs. 14.20 crore at the IPL 2026 auction in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday.
Mumbai Indians opened the bidding at Kartik’s base price of Rs. 30 lakh, before Kolkata Knight Riders and Lucknow Super Giants took charge as the contest escalated rapidly beyond Rs. 5 crore. CSK then locked horns with KKR, driving the price sharply higher, while Sunrisers Hyderabad made a late attempt to disrupt the chase. In the end, CSK prevailed, securing the 19-year-old for an eye-popping Rs.
14.20 crore.The Rajasthan wicketkeeper will feature in the IPL for the first time. Kartik has drawn attention for his explosive lower-order hitting in domestic white-ball cricket, most notably in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy league stage, where he scored 133 runs in five matches at a strike rate of over 160. Across his short T20 career of 12 matches, he has consistently operated at a strike rate north of 160.
Kartik is now the joint most expensive uncapped player in IPL history, alongside Prashant Veer, after both were bought by Chennai Super Kings for the same price.
Published on Dec 16, 2025
