The IPL 2026 Auction truly belonged to the recognition of the Indian uncapped players. The five-time IPL champions Chennai Super Kings spent a record Rs 14.20 Crore each in a historic bid in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday. 19-year-old Kartik Sharma, who had a base price of Rs 30 Lakh, was left after he became the joint-highest paid uncapped player in the league's history.
Uttar Pradesh's Prashant Veer was also fetched at a record price of Rs 14.20 crore in the auction on Tuesday.
“When the bidding started, I was scared I might miss out. But as the bid kept going up, I started crying,” Kartik was quoted as saying in a JioHotstar release.
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“Even after it ended, I couldn't stop. I was overwhelmed with emotion and happiness, I honestly don't know how to put it into words,” the keeper-batter from Rajasthan added.
Mumbai Indians and Lucknow Super Giants initiated the bidding for Kartik as Kolkata Knight Riders joined in.
Soon after MI exited the bidding, KKR and LSG took the price to Rs 2.80 crore before CSK came in.
KKR and CSK then engaged in a ferocious bidding war, which surged the price to Rs 13.20 crore, before Stephen Fleming and company sealed the deal at Rs 14.20 crore.
“A special thank you to all my family members & friends, without their support, I don't think I would have reached this stage,” he said.
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“My entire family is very happy, everyone is celebrating and dancing. I'm extremely excited to play alongside Mahendra Singh Dhoni and learn from him.”