Kartik Sharma bought for Rs. 14.2 crore as CSK splurges on young talent
CSK's bold investment in young talent signals a shift in their strategy, prioritizing long-term returns over established players
New Delhi: In a stunning move, Chennai Super Kings (CSK) has acquired Rajasthan’s wicketkeeper-batter Kartik Sharma for a whopping Rs. 14.2 crore at the IPL 2026 auction. The 19-year-old cricketer’s base price was just Rs. 30 lakh, making this a 47.3x jump in value.
Sharma’s explosive lower-order hitting in domestic white-ball cricket caught CSK’s attention, particularly in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, where he scored 133 runs in five matches at a strike rate of over 160. With Ravindra Jadeja and Sam Curran gone, CSK needed a finisher, and Sharma fits the bill perfectly.
CSK’s bold investment in young talent signals a shift in their strategy, prioritizing long-term returns over established players.
