Uncapped Prashant Veer and Kartik Sharma break IPL auction records
Prashant Veer, a 20-year-old left-arm spin allrounder from Uttar Pradesh, and Kartik Sharma, a 19-year-old wicketkeeper from Rajasthan, have set the record for the highest-priced uncapped Indian player ever acquired at an IPL auction, with Chennai Super Kings securing each of them for an astounding INR 14.2 crore during the IPL 2026 auction in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday. The previous benchmark for the most highly valued uncapped Indian was INR 10 crore for fast bowler Avesh Khan in 2022. Veer and Kartik highlighted a significant financial boost for uncapped Indian players, with Jammu and Kashmir fast bowler Auqib Nabi being signed by Delhi Capitals for INR 8.4 crore, and 23-year-old pace allrounder Mangesh Yadav being acquired by Royal Challengers Bengaluru for INR 5.2 crore. Other uncapped Indians who crossed or met the INR 1 crore threshold included wicketkeepers Tejasvi Dahiya (INR 3 crore to KKR), Mukul Choudhary (INR 2.6 crore to LSG), and Salil Arora (INR 1.5 crore to SRH), batter Akshat Raghuwanshi (INR 2.2 crore to LSG), and fast bowler Naman Tiwari (INR 1 CR to LSG). Veer’s base auction price was INR 30 lakh, but the bidding rapidly escalated – it kicked off between Mumbai Indians (MI) and Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) initially, followed by a contest involving CSK and LSG, with Rajasthan Royals (RR) and later Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) joining the fray. At the auction time, Veer had participated in nine domestic T20s, and his performances in the UP T20 League, the SMAT, and Uttar Pradesh’s Under-23 matches earned him an invitation to trials with CSK. After CSK secured Veer for INR 14.2 crore from the group of uncapped allrounders, they aggressively pursued Kartik, whose base price was also INR 30 lakh, from the subsequent set of uncapped wicketkeepers. Once again, MI and LSG initiated the bidding, followed by contests between LSG and KKR, KKR and CSK, and finally CSK and SRH, who withdrew once the bid reached INR 14.2 crore. Kartik, who has been signed by JSW Sports, which represents several elite athletes, including Olympic gold medalist Neeraj Chopra, is establishing himself as a lower-order finisher capable of hitting significant sixes. In 12 T20 matches, Kartik recorded 334 runs at a strike rate of 164, making 28 sixes. “Kartik Sharma, we had him last year and he did some trialing with us,” CSK coach Stephen Fleming stated. “We’ve been monitoring Kartik for a while, and I’ll refer back to the scouting and the efforts that have been made in multiple tournaments. Prashant Veer was identified as a valuable talent due to our need for that specific skill set following the trade of Jadeja for Sanju, and we see him as a promising player for our future development.” As the game has progressed, we might have been a bit slow to adapt to changes. Only halfway through the IPL 2025 tournament, we made a significant pivot, and you could see how our reserve player acquisitions reflected that. There are times when sticking to old theories and philosophies based on past successes can hinder progress, but we recognized the necessity to adapt, and some of the actions we took midway through last season allowed us to maintain our growth.” We believed that if we could assemble a robust core of local players, the team would be in a strong position, and sometimes it requires investing both time and finances in them because scouting numerous tournaments across India has become increasingly crucial. Players are being observed, studied, and secured with the intent to excel now, while also keeping an eye on future potential. The transformative impact of this can be a tremendously rewarding aspect of helping individuals pursue their passions. However, above all, they are acquired for their abilities, which is how they have been recognized, marking a celebration for them and their families. The first uncapped Indian player to attract significant attention at the IPL 2026 auction was Nabi, who was acquired by DC after they triumphed over competition from RR, RCB, and SRH. Unlike Veer and Sharma,
The 29-year-old Nabi has established himself as a reliable performer in domestic cricket over recent seasons. In the current Syed Mushtaq Ali trophy, he has claimed 15 wickets across seven matches while maintaining an economy rate below eight. He has also served as a net bowler for KKR and SRH previously. “He’s performed admirably in all formats; he’s someone we believe gives us a solid option at the top, he can bat a bit, and that’s why he commands such a high price,” said DC head coach Hemang Badani. “And only when someone else is bidding against us can a price reach 8-8.5 crores. So, that indicates that this kid possesses talent, similar to what Prashant Veer or Karthik Sharma has. There’s a reason people are willing to go up to 12 or 14 crores. A player doesn’t reach that price point unless there’s a bidding war. Many of the younger talents are emerging, and Auqib Nabi is one we believe will move ahead. We think he will be a valuable bowler for us.” Yadav’s bidding was contested between RCB and SRH, and his price increased from a base amount of INR 30 lakh to INR 5.2 crore, at which point SRH withdrew from the bidding. Yadav has only participated in two domestic T20 matches, scoring 28 runs off 12 balls and taking three wickets, but he made a notable impression in the Madhya Pradesh Premier League.
Published: 2025-12-16 13:43:00
source: www.espncricinfo.com
