Hailing from Bharatpur in Rajasthan, Kartik Sharma became the joint-most expensive player in TATA IPL Auction history when Chennai Super Kings (CSK) brought him onboard for a whopping INR 14.2 Crore during the TATA IPL 2026 Auction. Known for his ability to hit the ball hard and over the ropes regularly, the wicket-keeper batter became an overnight sensation with his surprise auction bid. Kartik hit the most number of sixes for any player in the 2024/25 Vijay Hazare Trophy and ended the 2025-26 Ranji Trophy season as the joint third-highest six-hitter. Training with the CSK squad during IPL 2025, Kartik showed his ability to even hit world-class bowlers for sixes with ease, which played a role in the franchise rating him so highly ahead of the forthcoming season. With the opportunity to learn from experienced campaigners in the CSK setup, Kartik Sharma will be eager to make his mark in IPL 2026.