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Uncapped Indian talents are always highly-sought after during the Indian Premier League (IPL) auctions. With less than two weeks to go, Rajasthan's Kartik Sharma has been making the headlines with predictions suggesting that the 19-year-old could become the highest-paid uncapped player at the IPL 2026 auction, set to take place in Abu Dhabi on December 16.
With most of the franchises retaining their core during the IPL 2026 retentions, the likes of Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and Chennai Super Kings (CSK) will have a busy day at the Eithad Arena, especially to rebuild a strong middle order. Both the franchises with enter the auction with highest purses among 10 franchises.
Sharma grabbed attention, especially from former cricketers Kevin Pietersen, Ravichandran Ashwin and Aakash Chopra for his exploits in the ongoing Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 Trophy. A wicketkeeper-batter with a good six-hitting ability, Sharma has developed the reputation of a fearless batter, the most demanded aspect in modern-day T20 cricket.
Meet Kartik Sharma - all you need to know
Sharma, who bats at no.4, has played 11 T20s for Rajasthan, scored 316 runs so far, including 27 sixes, and two half-centuries. His strike rate of 164.58 and an ability of take up the finisher's role are something which the franchises will have an eye on. He has reportedly attended several closed-door IPL trials last season but didn't find any takers.
Nit just in Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 Tournament, Sharma has also made heads turn with three hundreds in the 2025-26 Ranji Trophy. In 28 matches so far across all formats for Rajasthan in domestic cricket, Sharma's clean ball striking has been a particular highlight with 77 maximums to his name.
Why is Kartik Sharma rated so highly?
Such was the audacity of Sharma, one of his six-hitting videos was shared by Pietersen on November 20. In the video, Sharma hit a pacer for a six straight down the ground. In awe of the young Indian talent, Pietersen retweeted the video with a caption “Who is this?”
Not just Pietersen, Ashwin to spoke highly of Sharma on his YouTube channel and also drew comparisons with CSK's Ayush Mhatre. “Kartik Sharma is young and baggage-free. He is a power hitter in the middle order. You can say that you can bank on his talent.
"It is easier to bat there but for a youngster to come in and create impact in the middle order in T20 cricket is not easy,” Ashwin opined. Chopra felt Sharma could find himself in a bidding war between KKR and CSK.
“I feel they (CSK) will shop for batters. There is a boy named Kartik Sharma. He hits a lot of sixes. He can go to Kolkata as well as he is a wicketkeeper-batter and he can also come here. He might be the highest-paid uncapped player in this auction,” added Chopra.
Why KKR, CSK need Kartik Sharma?
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