IPL Auction LIVE: Kartik Sharma Bags ₹14.2 Crore Deal After Intense Bidding War

Young batting star Kartik Sharma created one of the most sensational moments of the IPL 2026 auction by signing a contract for an unbelievable amount of ₹14.2 crore with the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) as a result of a fierce bidding war involving multiple teams. What started as mere interest soon became a contest of great stakes which included Mumbai Indians, Lucknow Super Giants, Kolkata Knight Riders, Sunrisers Hyderabad, and finally, CSK.

Sharma's advancement through the auction mirrored his escalating popularity in the domestic cricket. The right-handed batsman has been a frequent performer in T20 and List A tournaments by being a player who can up the scoring rate. His skills in handling spin, effectively rotating the strike, and getting to the top of the scoring ere his name on the wish list of the teams.

The price bidding was such that it quickly went over ₹2 crore, then it was ₹ 5 crore in no time, and finally, it surpassed ₹10 crore as the franchises were cutthroat in the competition. While KKR had a temporary lead in the race before dropping out, the final face-off was between SRH and CSK, with the Dhoni's team winning the war at ₹14.2 crores.

On the other hand, Ruchit Ahir was not bought in the same round, which highlighted the unpredictability of the auction floor. The signing of Kartik Sharma, however, is a career-defining breakthrough that makes one of the largest investments in a young Indian batter at this year’s auction.

Everyone's expectations are now considerably raised, and Sharma is the one that will everyone’s with the IPL spotlight waiting for him.