Kartik Sharma: biography, stats & profile
Kartik Sharma is an Indian wk-batsman. Style: right-handed batter, bowls right-arm offbreak. Born 26 April 2006 in --.
Kartik Sharma is an Indian wicketkeeper-batter who bats right-handed and bowls right-arm offbreak. He was born on 26 April 2006 in Bharatpur, Rajasthan, and plays domestic cricket for Rajasthan and in the IPL for Chennai Super Kings.
He is best known for the INR 14.20 crore bid Chennai Super Kings made for him at the IPL 2026 auction. That made him the joint-most expensive uncapped Indian player in IPL history, alongside Prashant Veer.
Early life and domestic career
Sharma represented Rajasthan at Under-14 and Under-16 levels. He then moved to Jaipur at the age of 14 and became a prominent batter in the Aravali Premier League after a breakthrough in a local tournament.
He has played first-class, Twenty20 and List A cricket for Rajasthan. Wikipedia places his first-class and Twenty20 debuts in November 2025 and his List A debut in December 2025, while ESPNcricinfo’s listing gives a Rajasthan debut against Bihar on 23 November 2024, so the exact debut date is not settled here.
He was the joint-highest six-hitter in the first phase of the 2025-26 Ranji season and the highest six-hitter in the 2024-25 Vijay Hazare Trophy. In the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy he scored 133 runs in five matches at a strike rate above 160, which drew franchise attention before the auction.
IPL
Sharma made his IPL debut for Chennai Super Kings against Rajasthan Royals. Batting at No. 6 with the side at 19 for 3, he scored 18 off 15 balls.
His first IPL fifty was a 54 off 40 balls against Mumbai Indians, in which he shared a partnership with Ruturaj Gaikwad in a tough chase. Chasing 156 against Delhi Capitals, he stayed unbeaten on 41 off 31 balls and added a match-winning 114-run partnership with Sanju Samson.
At Ekana Stadium on Friday, 15 May, he scored 71 off 42 balls against Lucknow Super Giants, hitting six fours and five sixes.
Playing style
Sharma is a right-handed middle-order batter who keeps wicket for Rajasthan. ESPNcricinfo describes him as a serial six-hitter. Former India cricketer Irfan Pathan praised his strong off-side play against spin and his ability to read the googly early.
Recent form and news
The most recent dated report, from 6 May 2026, followed Chennai Super Kings’ eight-wicket win over Delhi Capitals. Pathan praised Sharma’s batting after that match.