Uncapped teenagers Prashant Veer and Kartik Sharma shatter IPL auction records

• Prashant Veer and Kartik Sharma set new IPL auction records for uncapped Indians
• Both were bought by CSK for approximately $1.58 million each
• Previous uncapped Indian record was around $1.1 million
• Multiple uncapped players fetched more than $100,000 at the auction
• Teams are placing higher value on domestic scouting and future potential

At the India Preimier League (IPL) 2026 auction in Abu Dhabi, two teenage uncapped Indian players rewrote the record books with jaw-dropping prices. Chennai Super Kings (CSK) stunned the cricket world by signing both Prashant Veer and Kartik Sharma for about $1.58 million (INR 14.2 crore) each, making them the highest-paid uncapped Indian players ever.

The previous benchmark for an uncapped Indian player was set in 2022 by Lucknow Super Giants, who paid fast bowler Avesh Khan roughly $1.1 million (INR 10 crore). That mark was obliterated at this year’s auction as franchises displayed increasing confidence in emerging domestic talent.

Veer, a 20-year-old left-arm spin allrounder from Uttar Pradesh, began the auction with a modest base price of about $3,340 (INR 30 lakh) but sparked one of the fiercest bidding battles of the night. Teams including Mumbai Indians, Lucknow Super Giants, Rajasthan Royals, and Sunrisers Hyderabad pushed the bid upward before CSK ultimately secured him for about $1.58 million. Veer’s ascent came on the back of standout performances in the UPT20 League, the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, and Uttar Pradesh’s Under-23 circuit, earning trials with CSK that clearly impressed the franchise’s talent scouts.

Not long after, CSK once again hit the same $1.58 million mark to secure 19-year-old wicketkeeper-batter Kartik Sharma. Initially priced at roughly $3,340, Kartik’s electrifying batting—334 runs in 12 T20 matches at a strike rate of 164, including 28 sixes—drew intense interest from multiple franchises. Bidding duels involving Mumbai Indians, Lucknow Super Giants, Kolkata Knight Riders, and Sunrisers Hyderabad ultimately saw CSK close the deal. Kartik is represented by JSW Sports, also the management team for Olympic gold medalist Neeraj Chopra.

The ripple effects of the auction extended beyond these two headline grabs. Fast bowler Auqib Nabi from Jammu and Kashmir was snapped up by Delhi Capitals for about $93,400 (INR 8.4 crore), while all-rounder Mangesh Yadav fetched around $58,000 (INR 5.2 crore) from Royal Challengers Bengaluru. Other uncapped Indians who cleared the $11,000 (INR 1 crore) threshold included wicketkeepers Tejasvi Dahiya, Mukul Choudhary, Salil Arora, batter Akshat Raghuwanshi, and fast bowler Naman Tiwari, reflecting a broader surge in demand for homegrown talent.

CSK head coach Stephen Fleming acknowledged that the team has shifted its strategy to place greater emphasis on young Indian talent after mid-season adjustments in the IPL 2025 campaign. Fleming highlighted how extensive scouting across domestic tournaments has made franchises more willing to invest heavily in prospects, both for their immediate impact and long-term growth.

In all, the IPL 2026 auction demonstrated how rapidly valuations for uncapped Indian players can escalate when franchises combine deep scouting work with a willingness to make bold financial commitments in pursuit of on-field success.