Chennai Super Kings’ expensive bet on Kartik Sharma is starting to pay off. After buying the uncapped Indian batter for Rs 14.2 crore at the IPL 2026 auction, CSK stuck with him at No. 4 through a slow opening run and have now been rewarded with back-to-back unbeaten scores of 54 against Mumbai Indians and 41 against Delhi Capitals.
Sharma had managed only 58 runs in his first five matches, but the pressure around him eased in the last two games as he finished both innings for CSK. His rise comes after the franchise made him the joint-most expensive uncapped Indian player in IPL history, a price tag that brought scrutiny as well as expectation.
Former India cricketer Sanjay Bangar said CSK had the right setup for Kartik Sharma to grow into the role. He said the franchise gives players opportunities and security, and that Sharma has improved with every match he has played. Bangar also pointed to the batter’s method, saying he looks to hit a lot of balls down the ground with a straight bat and backs his strength.
The timing matters because CSK have not only persisted with Sharma after a modest start, they have also kept him in the exact role they bought him for. In a team known for backing players over time, the decision to leave him at No. 4 despite early returns of just 58 runs across five matches showed patience rather than panic.
Bangar said Sharma is still a work in progress and will get much better, adding that CSK ideally want a player like him and that somebody of his type at No. 4 fits their plans. For a young uncapped batter bought for a record-equalling fee, the next step is no longer about proving the price was justified. It is about holding the spot CSK have already given him.
