Kartik Sharma [Source: AFP]Chennai Super Kings (CSK) had a disappointing campaign in IPL 2026. The five-time champions entered the season without the presence of MS Dhoni. As a result, the team looked unsettled in the opening matches and struggled to find momentum early in the tournament. Even so, the side managed to recover after losing their first three games. They finally registered their first win against Delhi Capitals, which gave the squad some confidence moving forward.Under the leadership of Ruturaj Gaikwad, CSK finished the season in seventh place. The team won 6 out of their 14 league matches. Unfortunately, their hopes of reaching the IPL 2026 playoffs ended after a defeat against Gujarat Titans in Ahmedabad on Thursday.Kartik Sharma's IPL 2026 PriceTalking about Kartik Sharma, the young batter from Rajasthan attracted plenty of attention before the tournament. The 19-year-old player became the joint-highest uncapped signing along with Prashant Veer during the IPL auction. Notably, Kartik had already impressed fans with a century on his Ranji Trophy debut against Uttarakhand. Since then, he has continued to deliver consistent performances for Rajasthan in domestic cricket. CSK spent a massive Rs 14.2 crore to sign Kartik Sharma, making him the joint-most expensive uncapped Indian player in IPL history.Apart from his contract amount, Kartik also earned match fees during the season. He received Rs 7.5 lakh for every match he played. Since he featured in 11 matches, his total match fee earnings reached Rs 82.5 lakh. Therefore, the overall amount earned by Kartik Sharma in IPL 2026 was Rs 15,02,50,000.Also Read: Kartik Sharma Scripts History Vs Mumbai Indians, Becomes Youngest CSK Batter To...How did Kartik Sharma Perform In IPL 2026?Kartik made his IPL debut this season under immense pressure. In his first game against Rajasthan Royals, he scored 18 runs from 15 balls. Since his auction price was extremely high, fans and experts expected immediate performances from the youngster.His difficult phase continued in the next few matches as he scored 1, 6, 18, and 15 runs. Consequently, criticism around his form started increasing while CSK were also struggling as a team.Even so, Kartik slowly regained his confidence and finally delivered an impressive unbeaten 54 against Mumbai Indians. That innings changed the momentum for the young batter. Afterward, he started batting with greater freedom and confidence.In 11 innings during IPL 2026, Kartik scored 295 runs at a strike rate of 136.57. Along with that, he maintained an average of 32.78, which reflected his improvement as the season progressed.Kartik Sharma's Cost Per Run In IPL 2026Notably, Kartik Sharma’s cost per run in IPL 2026 stands at Rs 5,09,322.03. The figure is certainly very high for a young player in his debut season.Even so, Kartik managed to show his potential with several important innings for CSK. His performances in the second half of the tournament also proved that he can become a valuable middle-order batter for the franchise in the future.Will Kartik Sharma Be Released To IPL 2027 Auction Pool? Rajgeeta’s take on this matterCSK appear focused on building a younger squad for the future. Therefore, Kartik is expected to remain with the franchise ahead of IPL 2027. The team needs an attacking middle-order batter, and Kartik seems capable of filling that role with his aggressive batting style.Along with his batting skills, his wicket-keeping ability also adds extra value to the squad. Moreover, he can serve as a backup wicketkeeper alongside Sanju Samson for the upcoming season. Also Read: Virat Kohli Fans Abuse Travis Scott For Travis Head, Other IPL Team Fans React
