The Chennai Super Kings (CSK) struck with great fear ahead Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 after the scary incident involving their record-breaking uncapped star. Karthik SharmaBought for a whopping INR 14.20 crore, he suffered a painful collapse while competing in the high-profile Mewar Cup 2026 tournament. The injury sent shockwaves among CSK fans, especially as the five-time champions invested around 15% of their total auction purse on the 19-year-old talent.
Mewar Cup 2026 incident: Kartik Sharma collapses in pain
The incident took place during a league match in PIMS Mewar Cup Season 4 at Udaipur on February 19, 2026. Batting for 39 runs from just 14 balls, Sharma looked in explosive form as he smashed three consecutive boundaries before tragedy struck Vipraj Nigam he was running to hit the fourth ball.
Footage from the ground showed the young man suddenly clutching his waist and falling to the grass in intense agony. Team physiologists rushed to the field to provide immediate medical attention, but Sharma was unable to continue and had to retire. While the exact nature of the injury is still being assessed, initial reports suggest it was a severe back sprain or muscle tear, with many observers describing the incident as “bad”.
We present the video:
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Also READ: Who is Kartik Sharma? ₹ 14.2 crore record holder signed by CSK
CSK’s new find Karthik Sharma: Most capped player in IPL history
Karthik Sharma became the most expensive uncapped player in IPL history by sharing the record with his teammate Prashant Veerafter a fierce bidding war, its price went up to INR 14.20 crore from a base price of INR 30 lakh. Its meteoric rise is supported by unusual domestic figures for Rajasthan, including:
- Explosive T20 batting: A strike rate of 162.92 in the shortest format, he hit 28 sixes in just 11 overs.
- Debut Shine: A century against Uttarakhand for Rajasthan on his Ranji Trophy debut and his Vijay Hazare Trophy debut (113).
- Lasting power: He finished the 2025 Vijay Hazare Trophy with the highest sixes and has over 11,000 runs in domestic cricket with a career strike rate of 150+.
Regarding his availability for IPL 2026, his status is currently unclear. With the IPL starting at the end of March, the youngster has about a month to recover. If it’s a minor back sprain, he could be fit for the season opener; but any structural damage could force CSK to look for a replacement player for their biggest investment in the auction.
Also READ: Ravichandran Ashwin picks CSK playing XI for IPL 2026, releases €14.20 crore rookery
