Who is Karthik Sharma? Young Rajasthan batter sold to CSK for a whopping Rs 14.20 crore

Chennai Super Kings turned heads at the IPL 2026 auction in Abu Dhabi by going big on youth, securing two of the most talked-about uncapped Indian talents in Karthik Sharma and Prashant Veer for Rs 14.20 crore each.

The twin signings underlined CSK’s intent to invest in long-term potential while reshaping key areas of their squad. Karthik Sharma’s name generated immediate excitement when it came up. The 19-year-old wicketkeeper batter from Rajasthan has already earned a reputation as a fearless hitter with the ability to change games in a matter of overs. A clean striker and a natural lower-order finisher, Karthik thrives under pressure and backs his power game without hesitation.

In just 11 T20 innings, Karthik has scored 334 runs at an average of 30.36 and a strike rate of 162.92, including two half-centuries with a best score of 58. His recent knocks of 46 against Karnataka and 35 versus Tamil Nadu further highlighted his growing maturity. He played a key role in Rajasthan winning six of their seven group-stage matches in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2025-26. His talent has also caught the attention of big names, with Ravichandran Ashwin and Kevin Pietersen publicly impressed by clips of his power hitting.

At just 19, he is already managed by JSW, the group that represents Olympic champion Neeraj Chopra. Alongside Karthik, CSK also made a strong move by signing 20-year-old left-arm spin-bowling allrounder Prashant Veer for the same Rs 14.20 crore. Veer first came into the spotlight while representing Noida Super Kings in the UP T20 League and has since built a solid body of work in domestic cricket. His recent Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy campaign saw him score 112 runs at a strike rate of 170 while picking up nine wickets at an economy of 6.76.