5 major statements made by CSK's Kartik Sharma in recent podcast appearance post IPL 2026 Auction

Rajasthan wicketkeeper-batter Kartik Sharma was acquired by the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) for a massive amount of ₹14.20 crore during the IPL 2026 auction. It was a record bid as he became the joint-highest most expensive uncapped Indian player in the IPL.

Kartik Sharma has played eight first-class, nine List A, and 12 T20 matches so far. In first-class cricket, he has scored 479 runs from 11 innings at an average of 43.54 with three hundreds. In List A cricket, he has 445 runs in eight innings at an average of 55.62 and a strike rate of 118.03 with two hundreds and as many half-centuries.

In 11 T20 innings, he has smashed 334 runs at an average of 30.36 and a strike rate of 162.92.

The 19-year-old recently appeared on Jatin Sapru's podcast after the IPL 2026 auction. Let us take a look at five major statements Kartik Sharma made during the podcast.

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#5 On how he got into the Chahar Academy at a young age of seven

Kartik Sharma began his cricket journey when he was extremely young. He was enrolled in the Chahar Academy, where Indian cricketer Deepak Chahar's father, Lokendra Singh Chahar, is the coach. Kartik revealed an interesting story about how he was denied from joining the academy initially, as he was just seven years old.

However, he then impressed the coach and eventually got it, which gave his cricket journey a kick-start.

"My dad used to help me practise underarm. He then took me to the Chahar Academy. Chahar sir (Deepak's dad) told no at first, as they would not take small children. We were watching the seniors practise from outside and I told my father that these seniors were not playing that well. We sat for 2-3 hours and then sir called us in. He told me that if I would touch even one out the six balls from their best bowler, they would take me in. I padded up. My father told me that my life was in my hands now. It was either make or break. I played a good shot at the very first ball and then they took me in. I was six or seven years old. The bowler was 16-17 years old," he said.

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#4 On attending trials for multiple IPL teams

While Kartik Sharma was picked by CSK, his journey to the IPL has not been as easy. Notably, the 19-year-old attended trials for multiple franchises before being selected eventually. He revealed having attended trials for the Rajasthan Royals (RR), Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), and CSK.

"The first trial I attended was at RR. I batted well too, and they told me to keep doing better. Then RCB called me, then KKR, then CSK. I played practise games at CSK and KKR trials. At the RCB trials, there were match scenarios. In trials, there are 20-25 people. We get scenarios like making 50 runs in six overs, and we had to bat in pairs," he said.

Kartik also spoke about his performances at the CSK trials in particular, where he scored a 40-ball 90 in one game and a 35-ball 70 in the other. He also mentioned attending the trials for the Delhi Capitals (DC).

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#3 On his father training him to hit only sixes

Kartik Sharma is known for his six-hitting ability. However, it is not known to many that his father played a huge role in developing his ability to smash sixes at a young age. He revealed how his father would train him to hit sixes and threatened to hit him if he played defensive shots.

"My father made me practise six-hitting. He liked sixes, and he told me that he would hit me if I played defence. He told me to hit every ball. He told me I would get hit by him if I played defence. My coach would make me practise defence, and in the night, when I practised with my father, he would make me hit sixes. My coach would scold my father, but he still made me practise six-hitting."

Kartik Sharma also revealed that he had smashed around 17 sixes from 30-35 balls without getting out at the RCB trials.

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#2 On not being a wicketkeeper initially and his big goals

Another massive revelation that Kartik Sharma made was that he was not a wicketkeeper when he started playing. It was Deepak Chahar who asked him to keep wickets as well and not rely on a single skill.

"I was not a keeper before. I would only bat. Then Deepak Chahar told me to keep as well. He told me that only one skill would not help. Then I started keeping from the last 4-5 years," he said.

The 19-year-old was also asked about his goals, where he mentioned wanting to become the first player from Rajasthan to have a stand on his name, apart from winning the World Cup for India.

"No player from Rajasthan has a stand on their name. My first goal is to have a stand on my name. And the next goal is to win the World Cup for India. I have done well in the Ranji, so I know you need to play with patience, choose the ball and look for your range, so Test cricket is also on my mind."

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#1 On clearing his father's loan from IPL salary

Apart from training him, Kartik Sharma's father has played a massive role in supporting him financially to pursue the sport as well. The CSK star revealed that his father had to shut down four out of his six shops to invest in Kartik Sharma's training. Moreover, his mother also played an important role by working to provide financial support.

"My father had six shops, and four got sold because of me. We had only two left. Because of practice, the bowling machine, all this costs. Father was the only one earning. But he sold these shops and helped me. He never let me feel that there were any problems. My mother also joined a job, and she is still working even today," he stated.

When asked about what he would do with his IPL salary, Kartik Sharma displayed immense gratitude and maturity, stating that his first aim would be to clear his father's ₹26 lakh loan.

"My father has a loan of 26 lakhs. So I will clear that loan first."

Edited by Rishab Vm