Overcome with emotion, 19-year-old Kartik Sharma broke down in tears after five-time champions Chennai Super Kings secured his services for a record ₹14.20 crore at the IPL 2026 mini-auction, making him the joint-highest paid uncapped player in the league’s history.
“I started crying when the bidding kept going up”, says Kartik Sharma
Entering the auction at a base price of ₹30 lakh, Kartik, along with Uttar Pradesh’s Prashant Veer, set a new benchmark when CSK splurged ₹14.20 crore on each of them during the auction held in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday.
“When the bidding started, I was scared I might miss out. But as the price kept going up, I couldn’t stop crying,” Kartik said in a JioHotstar release.
“Even after it ended, I was overwhelmed with emotion and happiness. I honestly don’t know how to put it into words,” added the teenage wicketkeeper-batter from Rajasthan.
The bidding for Kartik began with the Mumbai Indians and Lucknow Super Giants before Kolkata Knight Riders joined the race. While Mumbai exited early, KKR and LSG pushed the price up to ₹2.80 crore, prompting Chennai Super Kings to enter the fray.
The stakes rose dramatically as the bidding crossed ₹13.20 crore after KKR pulled out, with Sunrisers Hyderabad briefly stepping in before CSK sealed the deal at ₹14.20 crore.
Kartik expressed his excitement at the prospect of playing alongside MS Dhoni, while also acknowledging the unwavering support of his family and friends throughout his journey.
“A special thank you to my family members and friends. Without their support, I don’t think I would have reached this stage,” he said.
“My entire family is celebrating and dancing. I’m extremely excited to play alongside Mahendra Singh Dhoni and learn from him.”
