 "Kartik Sharma becomes joint most expensive uncapped player in IPL history")
Chennai Super Kings went all in during the uncapped category of the IPL 2026 Auction as they bought uncapped wicketkeeper-batter Kartik Sharma for a whopping sum of Rs 14.20 Crore. The signing was made within seconds of them buying another uncapped player in the form of Prashant Veer who was bought for the same amount of money making both players the join most expensive signing as an uncapped player in IPL Auction history.
| Most expensive uncapped players in IPL auction | |||
| Player | Team | Price | Year |
| Prashant Veer | Chennai Super Kings | Rs 14.20 Crore | 2025 |
| Kartik Sharma | Chennai Super Kings | Rs 14.20 Crore | 2025 |
| Avesh Khan | Lucknow Super Giants | Rs 10 crore | 2022 |
| Krishnappa Gowtham | Chennai Super Kings | Rs 9.25 crore | 2021 |
| Shahrukh Khan | Punjab Kings | Rs 9 crore | 2022 |
| Rahul Tewatia | Gujarat Titans | Rs 9 crore | 2022 |
| Krunal Pandya | Mumbai Indians | Rs 8.8 crore | 2018 |
| Varun Chakravarthy | Kings XI Punjab | Rs 8.40 crore | 2019 |
Mumbai Indians initiated the bidding for Kartik at his base price of ₹30 lakh, but the competition quickly intensified as Kolkata Knight Riders and Lucknow Super Giants took the lead, pushing the price past ₹5 crore. CSK then joined the battle with KKR, significantly driving up the cost, and Sunrisers Hyderabad made a late attempt to disrupt the bidding. Ultimately, CSK emerged victorious, securing the 19-year-old for a remarkable ₹14.20 crore.
Kartik, a wicketkeeper from Rajasthan, will make his IPL debut this season. He has gained attention for his explosive lower-order hitting in domestic white-ball cricket, particularly in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, where he scored 133 runs in five matches at a strike rate over 160. Throughout his brief T20 career of 12 matches, Kartik has consistently maintained a strike rate above 160.
With this deal, Kartik becomes the joint-most expensive uncapped player in IPL history, alongside Prashant Veer, both of whom were bought by Chennai Super Kings for ₹14.20 crore.
You’ve reached your limit of {{free_limit}} free articles this month.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
Already subscribed? Log in
Subscribe to read the full story →*Subscribe to Business Standard digital and get complimentary access to The New York Times
Smart Quarterly
₹900
3 Months
₹300/Month
SAVE 25%
Smart Essential
₹2,700
1 Year
₹225/Month
SAVE 46%
*Complimentary New York Times access for the 2nd year will be given after 12 months
Super Saver
₹3,900
2 Years
₹162/Month
Subscribe
Renews automatically, cancel anytime
Here’s what’s included in our digital subscription plans
Exclusive premium stories online
Over 30 premium stories daily, handpicked by our editors
Complimentary Access to The New York Times
News, Games, Cooking, Audio, Wirecutter & The Athletic
Business Standard Epaper
Digital replica of our daily newspaper — with options to read, save, and share
Curated Newsletters
Insights on markets, finance, politics, tech, and more delivered to your inbox
Market Analysis & Investment Insights
In-depth market analysis & insights with access to The Smart Investor
Archives
Repository of articles and publications dating back to 1997
Ad-free Reading
Uninterrupted reading experience with no advertisements
Seamless Access Across All Devices
Access Business Standard across devices — mobile, tablet, or PC, via web or app
SAVE 25%