Kartik Sharma is a young Indian wicket-keeper batter from Rajasthan whose rise caught the cricket world off guard in late 2025. At 19, he became a headline name when Chennai Super Kings secured him for ₹14.20 crore at the Indian Premier League auction, making him the joint-most expensive uncapped player in IPL history.
What followed was a flood of interest around his power hitting, family sacrifices, and a domestic run that forced the spotlight his way.
Quick facts
- Full name: Kartik Sharma
- Born: April 26, 2006
- Age: 19 (as of late 2025)
- Role: Wicket-keeper batter
- Batting: Right-handed
- State team: Rajasthan
- IPL team: Chennai Super Kings (from 2026)
Early life in Bharatpur
Kartik Sharma was born in Bharatpur, Rajasthan, into a modest household. His father, Manoj Sharma, had played local-level cricket before an injury ended his playing days. Cricket stayed in the family, though.
At just two and a half years old, Kartik struck a ball so hard at home that it shattered two photo frames. That moment became family lore, a hint of what was to come.
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To keep his son playing, Manoj and Kartik’s mother, Radha, made tough choices. They sold village farmland and jewellery to fund training and travel. During a tournament in Gwalior, the family ran out of money. Kartik and his father spent a night in a shelter, sleeping hungry, and returned home only after the prize money from the final. Those nights shaped his journey as much as any net session.
Education and the long wait for selection
Kartik continued his studies alongside cricket and completed Class 12 in 2025. He has said he plans to pursue higher education while playing professionally.
On the field, he trained under his father and local coaches, representing Rajasthan at the Under-14 and Under-16 levels. After that came a testing phase. Nearly four years passed without selection to higher squads. Instead of quitting, Kartik kept playing local matches, working on his batting and wicket-keeping every day.
The breakthrough finally arrived with selection to the Rajasthan Under-19 team, followed by a call-up to the senior Ranji Trophy side. In interviews, Kartik has named MS Dhoni and Virat Kohli as players he admired growing up.
Domestic cricket journey
Kartik Sharma wasted no time once he reached senior domestic cricket.
Ranji Trophy
In the 2024–25 season, he scored a century on his first-class debut for Rajasthan. Across eight matches, he piled up 479 runs with three centuries, showing that his game was not limited to short formats.
Vijay Hazare Trophy
In List A cricket, Kartik scored 445 runs in nine matches at an average of 55.62, including two centuries. He finished as the highest six-hitter of the 2025 Vijay Hazare Trophy.
Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy
T20s brought wider attention. In the 2025 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, he scored 133 runs in five matches at a strike rate above 160.
By that stage, he had hit 28 sixes in just 11 T20 innings, earning the tag of a serial six-hitter.
Age-group impact that turned heads
Kartik’s power was clear even before senior cricket. In the 1st TAJ Under-14 Cricket Tournament, he smashed 309 off 152 balls, with 14 fours and 35 sixes, striking at 203.29.
The match details are recorded on CricHeroes. You can view the full scorecard via the Under-14 tournament scorecard on CricHeroes.
Consistency backed by numbers
Kartik Sharma’s record on CricHeroes shows rare output with aggression.
Career stats on CricHeroes
- Matches: 269
- Innings: 259
- Runs: 11,706
- Average: 50.9
- Strike rate: 150.73
Boundaries
- Fours: 989
- Sixes: 859
Milestones
- 73 half-centuries
- 30 centuries
These numbers explain why franchises tracked him closely.
Rise to fame at the IPL auction
December 16, 2025, changed everything. At the IPL mini-auction, bidding escalated quickly. When CSK sealed Kartik at ₹14.20 crore, cameras caught him in tears. He later said he could not stop crying as the final bid was called.
Before the auction, he had trained with multiple franchises, including CSK, Mumbai Indians, RCB, Rajasthan Royals, and Delhi Capitals. During trials,Dinesh Karthik advised Kartik Sharma during an RCB trial, telling him to work hard, never stop, and that he had potential to play for India, even warning him not to get complacent with a big IPL contract
Kartik has also spoken about his excitement to learn from MS Dhoni, now his CSK captain.
Playing style
Kartik Sharma is a right-handed wicket-keeper batter built for momentum. His game relies on clean hitting, especially through the leg side and straight down the ground. In domestic T20s, his strike rate has stayed above 160.
He usually bats in the late overs to lift scoring rates. As a keeper, he is still polishing his craft and has said he wants to grow under Dhoni’s guidance. Though he bowls right-arm medium in local matches, at the senior level, he is used as a batter-keeper only.
Records and achievements
Centuries
- Ranji Trophy: 3
- Vijay Hazare Trophy: 2
Key milestones
- Century on Ranji Trophy debut
- Century on Vijay Hazare Trophy debut
- Joint-most expensive uncapped IPL player
- 32nd Mathuradas Mathur Award (2025)
- Best Junior Cricketer of Rajasthan (2024–25)
The Rajasthan award included a certificate, memento, ₹7,500 cash prize, and a professional kit bag.
Notable matches
- Rajasthan Premier League T20 (2023): 155* with 14 fours and 8 sixes against Udaipur Lake City Warriors
- Ranji Trophy debut (2024–25): Century on first-class debut
- Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (2025): 133 runs in five matches at high strike rate
- Gwalior tournament (2023): Team reached final despite financial hardship, a defining chapter
- IPL auction (2025): CSK bid of ₹14.20 crore set a new uncapped record
Club and league career
Kartik represents Rajasthan in the Ranji Trophy, Vijay Hazare Trophy, and Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. He played in the Rajasthan Premier League in 2023.
He is set to begin his IPL career with Chennai Super Kings in 2026. He has not yet played in overseas T20 leagues. Kartik is affiliated with JSW Sports, which manages his professional commitments.
Struggles before the breakthrough
Kartik’s story is built on patience rather than recovery from injury. Four years without higher selection tested him and his family. They stayed the course, training daily despite financial strain. When the break finally came, it arrived fast, from domestic centuries to an IPL record bid within months.
Personal life
Away from the field, Kartik lives simply. He is the eldest of three brothers. One follows cricket, the other focuses on academics. He remains based in Bharatpur during the off-season and often credits his parents for every step forward.
Follow Kartik Sharma on CricHeroes
Track Kartik’s full match history, stats, and milestones on his CricHeroes player profile.
FAQs
Who is Kartik Sharma?
A Rajasthan wicket-keeper batter who became the joint-most expensive uncapped player after CSK signed him for ₹14.20 crore.
How old is Kartik Sharma?
He was born on April 26, 2006. He is 19 as of late 2025.
What is Kartik Sharma’s highest score?
155 not out in a domestic T20 match during the Rajasthan Premier League.
Which IPL team does Kartik Sharma play for?
Chennai Super Kings, starting from the 2026 season.
What is Kartik Sharma known for?
Clean power hitting, high strike rates in T20S, and finishing roles with the bat.
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