Kartik Chadha was impressive in Sher-E-Punjab 2026. Image Credits: AFPKartik Chadha was one of the biggest positives of the recently concluded Sher-E-Punjab T20 League 2026. At just 22, the leg-spinner showcased his skill and ability to outfox batters on batting-friendly surfaces.The tournament was far from easy for bowlers, with flat pitches regularly producing big scores. Yet, Kartik consistently found ways to keep batters in check, making his performances even more impressive in a competition largely dominated by the batters.Kartik Chadha’s impressive showings in Sher-E-Punjab 2026Most wickets in Sher-E-PunjabKartik Chadha was the second-leading wicket-taker, finishing with 14 wickets at an average of 18 and a strike rate of 16.71 in 10 innings. More notably, he conceded just 6.46 runs per over, the best economy rate among all bowlers in the competition.He also bowled around 34.18% dot balls, was wicketless only twice and picked up a four-wicket haul against Fazilka Falcons.One of the most notable features of his bowling was his sharp googly, which turned significantly after pitching. He doesn’t change his action while shifting from leg-spins to googlies, which makes it hard to pick before release. Kartik was also remarkably accurate throughout the tournament, consistently hitting the 4-6 metre lengths and generating substantial turn from tight groupings.At times, he slowed his pace further to give the ball more time to turn and deceive batters in the air. Few leg-spinners in the modern game show such a tendency, making Kartik Chadha an intriguing prospect.Theory @BainsTheory The hottest 𝙇𝙚𝙜-𝙎𝙥𝙞𝙣 𝙋𝙧𝙤𝙨𝙥𝙚𝙘𝙩 for IPL rn. 🌟𝙆𝙖𝙧𝙩𝙞𝙠 𝘾𝙝𝙖𝙙𝙝𝙖 (Dismissed Shubman Gill today👀) Sep 6, 2026, 10:40 PM That variation may also explain why he was able to make regular inroads while remaining economical on batting-friendly surfaces. Rather than bowling flatter trajectories that allow batters to swing through the line, he often forces them to generate their own power, making it harder to score freely.How Kartik’s recent success could earn him an IPL dealPerformances of spinners in IPL 2026A notable trend in recent IPL seasons has been the rise of local talent, particularly among top-order batters and spinners. Several quality bowlers have emerged through the domestic ranks, gradually reducing teams’ reliance on overseas options in the bowling department. Spinners, in particular, are now predominantly Indian across IPL squads.That could open a pathway for Kartik Chadha to enter the setup next season. According to Cricinfo, he has already trialled with five IPL teams and was part of Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in IPL 2025. He worked as a net bowler, gaining valuable experience by watching Noor Ahmad and other spinners up close.Recency bias can also play a significant role at IPL auctions, with teams often looking towards recent form and raw potential when selecting backup options or X-factor players. Kartik has age on his side and has already shown plenty of promise. The fact that he has trialled with multiple franchises suggests that his skills have attracted attention.Also Read: Who Is Kartik Chadha? Leg-Spinner Who Dismissed Shubman Gill In Sher-E-Punjab T20Several IPL scouts were also present at the Sher-E-Punjab tournament and are likely to have taken note of his performances. With the IPL 2027 auction expected to be a mini auction, the options will be limited to pick from, and there will be demand for quality Indian spinners. At least half of the teams could potentially be looking for an experienced or promising spinner, either as a backup option or for a more prominent role.Which teams could target Kartik Chadha?Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) could be among the first teams to target Kartik Chadha at the IPL 2027 auction. They currently have Digvesh Rathi, Wanindu Hasaranga, Shahbaz Ahmed and Manimaran Siddharth in their spin department, but none appears to be a completely convincing option.Digvesh lost some of his mystery factor last season, while Hasaranga has struggled to make a consistent impact against stronger batting attacks in this format and has also dealt with recurring injury issues. Shahbaz and Manimaran, meanwhile, are not wrist-spinners and are better suited to playing holding roles.In IPL 2026, LSG's spinners had the worst average (48.82) and economy rate (10.57) among all 10 teams. After moving on from Ravi Bishnoi, they have not quite managed to fill that void with a stronger option. LSG have also developed a reputation for scouting promising local talent from across the country's T20 leagues, which could work in Kartik's favour.Theory @BainsTheory 🌟𝙆𝙖𝙧𝙩𝙞𝙠 𝘾𝙝𝙖𝙙𝙝𝙖 - NOT a one-trick pony btw. He doesn't only bowl googlies lads. IPL scouts.... Sep 9, 2026, 2:39 PM Kartik could therefore be on their radar, particularly after his recent success in the Sher-E-Punjab T20 League. His style would also bring a different dimension to their spin attack.Mumbai Indians (MI) are another team that could consider him, especially if they want better options than Mayank Markande. He has not progressed enough since his early success and does not yet appear ready to shoulder the responsibility of being a lead spinner.Raghu Sharma also has a relatively limited repertoire, meaning MI may not want to rely solely on him. Even defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) could look for cover for Suyash Sharma, who did not pick up too many wickets and was expensive at times in IPL 2026.If CSK decide to move on from Rahul Chahar, Kartik could also emerge as a potential backup option.Overall, the young leg-spinner has several factors working in his favour. He has already attracted interest from multiple franchises, has just come off an impressive tournament and offers the kind of wrist-spin option that can add variety to a squad. A mini auction can be unpredictable, and if multiple teams see value in his skill set, Kartik could even command a higher price than he might expect.Also Read: List Of IPL Auction Venues
