The IPL 2026 mini auction witnessed an unprecedented rise in the value of homegrown Indian talent and resulted in a historic moment when two players were bought by the same franchise for the same record price.
Goalkeeper-prone Karthik Sharma He became the second player to be bought for a mammoth ₹ 14.20 crore in the Rajasthan auction. Chennai Super Kings (CSK)join thoroughly Prashant Veer at the top of the unfulfilled player salary list. Starting at a base price of ₹30 lakh, the 19-year-old first sparked a prolonged bidding war. Kolkata Knight Ridersbefore Sunrisers Hyderabad‘s late challenge was overcome by CSK who displayed a clear, aggressive strategy to build the Indian base.
Prashant Veer became the most expensive IPL player
The bid for Prashant was one of the most unexpected and explosive moments of the IPL 2026 auction and immediately caught the eye as many teams recognized his potential. Fierce tender started down, with Mumbai Indians (MI) and Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) he paddles first.
But the real fireworks started when CSK entered the closely watched contest Rajasthan Royals (RR)bid crossed the ₹6 crore mark. The battle then turned into a high-octane battle with CSK Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH). Both the franchises were outrageous and cost over the previous record of ₹ 10 crore (held by Avesh Khan in 2022) and into the territory of established international players.
CSK and SRH exchanged bids more than 40 times, with the price increasing by Rs 20 lakh at one point. The bid crossed ₹10 crore, then ₹12 crore and finally ₹14 crore. SRH made a penultimate bid of ₹14.00 crore, but CSK countered with a final, successful bid of ₹14.20 crore, making Prashant Veer the most expensive player sold in an IPL auction so far.
Also READ: IPL 2026 Auction: Fans go wild as Cameron Green becomes costliest overseas player in league history
Chennai Super Kings (CSK) buy Ravindra Jadeja’s potential successor
Chennai’s aggressive pursuit of Prashant for Rs 14.20 crore is an obvious strategic move to fill the void left by the veteran all-rounder’s departure. Ravindra Jadeja in the previous save window. Prashant Veer’s profile perfectly fits the ‘next Jadeja’ template for the franchise: a left-handed bat who can stabilize the order from the middle down and a left-arm orthodox spinner who can provide crucial breakthroughs in the middle at the spin-friendly Chepauk stadium. His recent domestic form, which put him in the limelight of the auction, justified CSK’s huge investment.
His keynote addresses highlighted his high impact potential:
- A knock of 167 in T20s confirms his ability to provide explosive finishing power.
- He showed his true all-round utility by scoring 320 runs and 8 wickets in 10 matches in the UPT20 League 2025.
- He offers agility through the medium overs, which is what CSK require to maintain momentum after power plays.
Here’s how the fans reacted:
There is no bigger turnaround in IPL history than CSK’s shift from tried and tested veteran players to untested young prospects. Prashant Veer and now, Kartik Sharma.
— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) December 16, 2025
Note the exciting Google searches for Prashant Veer
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) December 16, 2025
Prashant Veer is the best Indian number 8 available in the market, except the price tag is an awesome buy.
— TravisBickle (@TravisbickleCSK) December 16, 2025
You enter the yellow world and how? 🥳🔥
Prashant Veer, the most expensive player in IPL!📈📈#WhistlePod #IPLAuction pic.twitter.com/OwJY0FhoZK— Chennai Super Kings (@ChennaiIPL) December 16, 2025
The most expensive player in IPL HISTORY! Prashant Veer SOLD to Chennai Super Kings for a whopping INR 14.20 Cr#IPL #csk #IPLAuction #chennaisuperkings #ipl2026 pic.twitter.com/Aa0BbbgY3w
— CricketTimes.com (@CricketTimesHQ) December 16, 2025
The record-breaking fight for Karthik Sharma has made him the joint costliest player
Bidding for uncapped wicketkeeper Karthik was one of the most extended and aggressive duels of the IPL 2026 auction, culminating in him being secured by Chennai for a historic ₹ 14.20 crore, tying the record for the most expensive non-wicket player ever. Starting at a modest base price of ₹30 lakh, the 19-year-old immediately attracted initial interest. Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). LSG eventually pulled back at ₹ 2.60 crore, but KKR, who had earlier made record purchases at the auction, went head-to-head with chicken CSK.
This rivalry turned into a war of attrition, with both franchises mercilessly raising the price by ₹20 lakh at a time. The bid quickly crossed the ₹5 crore mark and continued its upward trajectory, crossing the significant ₹10 crore mark and then reaching ₹12.80 crore with KKR still challenging CSK. In a late, decisive move, SRH entered the fray, showing their intentions by raising the price to ₹ 14.00 crore. However, CSK decided to field the highly effective WK-batter by placing a final, winning bid of Rs 14.20 crore. This spectacular acquisition demonstrated CSK’s commitment to investing heavily in local talent, with Karthik Sharma seen as a vital, long-term asset to bolster their batting and wicketkeeping options.
Significance of ₹14.20 crore bid for Kartik Sharma
The successful bid of ₹14.20 crore for Karthik cemented Chennai Super Kings’ aggressive auction strategy aimed at securing top-class Indian talent for the future.
- Joint Capless Note: In line with the price paid for Prashant Veer, Kartik Sharma became the most expensive joint player in IPL history with his raw talent and proven domestic T20 strike rate of 167.
- Wicketkeeper-Batter Premium: His ability to keep wickets while providing an explosive middle order (as seen in his 334 runs in 11 SMAT innings) made him a two-in-one package. This versatility is appreciated by IPL franchises looking to maximize their Indian slots.
- Future Core of CSK: The relentless bidding against KKR and SRH underscores that CSK view Karthik as a crucial part of their long-term plans, especially in the post-Dhoni era where they require a reliable, high-impact domestic WK-Batter.
Here’s how the fans reacted:
Kartik Sharma in Chepauk.#IPL2026Auction
— Ashwin 🇮🇳 (@ashwinravi99) December 16, 2025
The good thing about this Karthik Sharma is that he can loft through the covers without filling the deck.
Quite modern batsmen have great bat speed to cross the line along with playing some innovative shots. But at the highest level it may not be…
— Bharath Ramaraj (@Fancricket12) December 16, 2025
Kartik Sharma, 19 years old from Rajasthan. A big hitting keeper-bat who has scored 160+ so far in this SMAT 2025-26. Bats 4/5. And keeps the doors. You can see why teams are desperate to get hold of him.
CSK bought him for 14.20 crore, the same price as Prashant Veer. #IPLAuction
-Saurabh Somani (@saurabh_42) December 16, 2025
Kartik Sharma is a solid 15-year investment for CSK, not considering the price tag as it is a mini auction.
— Sujith V (@Sujith1727) December 16, 2025
I hope we don’t use Kartik and Prashant like we did with Rizvi and give them a proper role in XII and guide them along the way. Both are 19- and 20-year-olds who will play the toughest roles for a cricketer at the highest level.
— Heisenberg ☢ (@internetumpire) December 16, 2025
