Kartik Sharma (कार्तिक शर्मा), a 19-year-old right-handed wicketkeeper-batter from Bharatpur, Rajasthan, has risen rapidly in Indian cricket through his explosive domestic performances and power-hitting prowess.
Born on April 26, 2006, he honed his skills under his father’s guidance, cycling 15 km daily for practice from age five with a plastic bat, dreaming of sixes like MS Dhoni, while his parents sold land and jewelry to support him during four years without selection.
Debuting in Ranji Trophy at 18 for Rajasthan against Uttarakhand, he shone in youth tournaments like Cooch Behar (181 off 104 balls) and Vinoo Mankad (500 runs), plus Syed Mushtaq Ali T20s with 334 runs at a 163 strike rate including 28 sixes, earning praise from Kevin Pietersen and R Ashwin.
In the IPL 2026 auction on December 15, 2025, Chennai Super Kings outbid rivals for Rs 14.20 crore—making him the most expensive uncapped player ever—after his base price of Rs 30 lakh skyrocketed due to his finishing skills and keeping ability. Now eyed as a potential IPL sensation for CSK, his journey from grit to glamour positions him as one of 2025’s breakout uncapped stars.
Kartik Sharma | Cricketer Biography | कार्तिक शर्मा Wikipedia
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Kartik Sharma | कार्तिक शर्मा |
| Date of Birth | 26 April 2006 |
| Age | 19 years (as of Dec 2025) |
| Birthplace | Rajasthan, India |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Primary Role | Wicketkeeper-batter |
| Batting Style | Right-handed batsman |
| Bowling Style | N/A (primarily batter) |
| Domestic Teams | Rajasthan cricket team |
| Other T20 Team | Udaipur Lakecity Warriors |
| Franchise (IPL 2026) | Chennai Super Kings (CSK) – bought for ₹14.20 crore |
| Domestic Career Debut | Debut in Ranji Trophy and Vijay Hazare Trophy (2024–25) – noted for impactful performances prior to IPL selection |
| Notable Domestic Performances |
|
| T20 Stats Highlights | 12 T20 matches, 334 runs at ~164 SR with 28 sixes |
| Key Skills | Power hitting and finishing abilities |
| Family Background | Family made financial sacrifices (sold assets/kids’ education funds) to support his cricket dream |
| Early Cricket Start | Started batting around 2.5 years old |
| Training & Development | Practised extensively at local academies; worked on power-hitting and wicketkeeping |
| Commercial/Brand Support | Signed by JSW Sports (talent support & management) |
| Highest IPL Bid (Record) | One of the highest bids for an uncapped player in IPL history at ₹14.20 crore |
| Current Status (Dec 2025) | Preseason training with CSK and preparing for IPL 2026 season |
Kartik Sharma Early Life
Kartik Sharma grew up in a modest family in Bharatpur, where his father Manoj Sharma, a former aspiring cricketer turned tutor, quit his job to support his son’s passion. Starting cricket at age 5 with a plastic bat, Kartik trained rigorously, often cycling 15 km daily for practice while his family sold land, jewelry, and took loans to fund his journey, even facing nights without food during tournaments.
Kartik Sharma Career Achievements
Sharma debuted with a century in the 2024-25 Ranji Trophy against Uttarakhand, becoming Rajasthan’s youngest player at 18, and topped their Vijay Hazare Trophy run charts with 445 runs at a 118 strike rate. In T20s, he amassed 334 runs in 11-12 innings at a 163 strike rate, including fifties, with strong Syed Mushtaq Ali showings (133 runs in 5 innings at 160 strike rate); his IPL signing highlights his power-hitting and keeping skills.
Kartik Sharma Awards
No major individual awards are documented yet for Kartik Sharma, whose career highlights stem from domestic performances like Ranji debut century and leading run-scorer honors rather than formal accolades. His IPL deal stands as his biggest recognition so far.
Kartik Sharma Net Worth
Kartik Sharma’s net worth surged post-IPL 2026 auction, with his ₹14.20 crore CSK contract (base ₹30 lakh, after taxes around ₹8.66 crore in-hand) helping clear family debts; prior estimates are unavailable given his recent emergence from domestic cricket.
Kartik Sharma Controversies
1. No Reported Controversies
Multiple reputable sources that profile Kartik Sharma explicitly note that he has not been involved in controversies. His rapid rise in domestic cricket and high IPL auction price have been framed positively and performance-based, with no off-field issues reported to date.
2. Media Coverage Focuses on Cricket and Personal Story
Media reporting around Kartik Sharma to date centres on:
- His family’s financial sacrifices to support his cricketing development.
- His emotional reaction to a significant IPL auction outcome (being bought for ₹14.20 crore by Chennai Super Kings), which has been widely covered as a human-interest aspect rather than controversy.
- Discussions about his cricketing potential and on-field capabilities, without mention of disputes or discipline issues.
3. Public and Media Reaction
To date, commentary on Kartik Sharma’s high IPL valuation has been largely neutral or positive, focusing on the surprise element and excitement at his potential, not on scandal or criticism.
Kartik Sharma Caste
Kartik Sharma, the 19-year-old Rajasthan cricketer from Bharatpur, belongs to the Brahmin community, as evidenced by local Brahmin associations like Shri Brahmin Sabha Bharatpur and Sarv Brahmin Mahasabha honoring him with turbans, garlands, and citations post his IPL 2026 CSK signing. Social media and community posts explicitly celebrate him as a “Brahmin pride” from the region, aligning with his middle-class family background without formal contradiction elsewhere. No official personal disclosure exists, but these recognitions confirm the affiliation amid his rapid rise.
Kartik Sharma Family
| Member | Relation | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Manoj Sharma | Father | Former cricketer (medium-pace bowler) turned tutor; sold land, plots, quit job to train Kartik; earned via tuitions and odd jobs. |
| Radha Sharma | Mother | Sold jewelry (mangalsutra, bangles, earrings) for cricket kits and tournaments; homemaker/Anganwadi worker. |
| Younger Brother | Brother | Plays cricket |
| Middle Brother | Brother | Focused on academics |
| Grandfather | Grandfather | Pension supported household expenses |
Kartik Sharma IPL
Kartik Sharma, the 19-year-old Rajasthan wicketkeeper-batter, scripted IPL history by becoming the joint-most expensive uncapped player at ₹14.20 crore during the IPL 2026 auction in Abu Dhabi, where Chennai Super Kings outbid rivals like MI, LSG, KKR, and SRH from his ₹30 lakh base price.
CSK coach Stephen Fleming highlighted long-term scouting of Sharma, who trained with their squad last season, viewing him as a power-hitting middle-order finisher and Dhoni’s backup keeper post-Jadeja trade. Sharma stayed composed during the bidding but broke down in tears afterward, expressing excitement to learn from MS Dhoni while crediting family sacrifices for his breakthrough.
Kartik Sharma FAQs
1. Who is Kartik Sharma?
A 19-year-old right-handed wicketkeeper-batter from Bharatpur, Rajasthan, now with Chennai Super Kings after a record IPL auction bid.
2. What is Kartik Sharma’s IPL contract value?
₹14.20 crore with CSK for IPL 2026, tying the highest for an uncapped Indian player from a ₹30 lakh base price.
3. When was Kartik Sharma born?
April 26, 2006, making him 19 during the IPL 2026 auction.
4. What is his domestic cricket highlight?
Debut Ranji Trophy century (113 off 115) vs Uttarakhand in 2024-25, Rajasthan’s youngest debutant at 18.
5. What are his T20 stats?
334 runs in 12 matches at 164 strike rate, including 28 sixes; 133 runs in 5 Syed Mushtaq Ali innings at 160+ SR.
6. Who bought Kartik Sharma in IPL 2026 auction?
Chennai Super Kings (CSK), after intense bidding; he’s their second uncapped buy alongside Prashant Veer at the same price.
7. What is his role in CSK?
Aggressive middle-order finisher and backup wicketkeeper to MS Dhoni, praised for power-hitting against spin and pace.
8. Has he trained with IPL teams before?
Yes, trained with CSK squad last season and impressed at trials for KKR (18 sixes) and RCB (Dinesh Karthik’s praise).
9. What is his recent performance?
In Syed Mushtaq Ali T20s: 18 (Dec 1 vs Uttarakhand), 46 (Nov 30 vs Karnataka), 16 (Nov 28 vs Tripura), 35 (Nov 26 vs Tamil Nadu).
10. Who are his family members?
Father Manoj (ex-cricketer, tutor), mother Radha (sold jewelry), two younger brothers (one cricketer), grandfather’s pension aided household.
11. What sacrifices did his family make?
Father sold land/plots, quit job, took loans; mother sold mangalsutra; family slept hungry during tournaments to fund training.
12. How did he react to the IPL auction?
Remained calm during bidding but cried afterward; family celebrated wildly; plans to repay supporters with sweets and visits.
13. Is Kartik Sharma excited for CSK?
Extremely; thanked family and called playing with MS Dhoni a dream, aiming to learn from him.
14. Any management interest?
JSW (Neeraj Chopra’s group) manages him, recognizing his potential post-domestic exploits.
15. What are CSK’s comments on him?
Coach Stephen Fleming noted long-term scouting across tournaments, fitting post-Jadeja trade needs.
