Sometimes, belief costs everything. And sometimes, it gives everything back. Young Kartik Sharma’s cricketing journey is the perfect epitome of the above-mentioned words.

When Kartik Sharma first held a cricket bat, his family could barely afford the dream that came with it.

In Bharatpur, Rajasthan, his father, Manoj, struggled to make ends meet by teaching private tuition, selling cold drinks, and taking whatever odd jobs he could find to keep the family afloat.

Kartik studied till Class 12, but his days didn’t end with school. He taught tuition himself, saved every rupee he earned, bought his own cricket kit, and still helped support the household.

Cricket was never a luxury or a hobby. It was fitted between responsibilities, paused when money ran out, and resumed only when circumstances allowed.

As Kartik’s talent became impossible to ignore, his father took a life-changing step... He sold his shop. Took a loan. Bought a bowling machine and 500 balls.

While others trained at professional academies, Kartik Sharma trained every day at home, facing 150 kmph deliveries, learning to clear the boundary long before life became comfortable.

In the IPL 2026 mini auction, that belief found its reward. Kartik Sharma was picked by Chennai Super Kings for INR 14.20 crore, making him the joint-highest-paid uncapped player in the tournament history.

(As of March 2026)