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Kartik Sharma: The 19-year-old prospect IPL teams cannot ignore during mini-auction

Kaushik Kashyap

Kartik Sharma for Rajasthan. [Source - @kartiksharma2960/instagram]Kartik Sharma for Rajasthan. [Source - @kartiksharma2960/instagram]

When a 19-year-old begins showing dominance and temperament like no other, it becomes impossible for the world to ignore. Kartik Sharma is not just another youngster, he is a wicketkeeper-batter with rare maturity, timing his rise perfectly as he forces every IPL team to take notice.

Last year, he stunned multiple teams during closed-door trials, consistently outperforming seasoned players, yet eligibility rules kept him out of the mega auction. This year, nothing stops him. Fully qualified, battle-ready, and rapidly rising, Kartik Sharma walks into this year’s IPL auction ready to make the stage to his name.

Kartik’s early rise through Rajasthan’s youth ranks

Kartik Sharma in RPL. [Source - @kartiksharma2960/instagram]Kartik Sharma in RPL. [Source - @kartiksharma2960/instagram]

Kartik Sharma’s early rise was clear in Rajasthan’s age-group cricket and the Rajasthan Premier League, where he confidently attacked senior state bowlers. His performances earned him a spot in the India U19 probables alongside the likes of Vaibhav Suryavanshi for the 2024 U19 World Cup, though he narrowly missed making the final squad.

The 2024–25 season elevated him further as he amassed runs in every tournament he played. In the Vinoo Mankad Trophy, he powered nearly 500 runs for Rajasthan and struck 22 sixes, the joint-highest in the event. His consistent dominance established him as one of India’s most explosive emerging wicketkeeper-batters.

His surge continued in the Cooch Behar Trophy, where he played a sensational 181 off 104 balls featuring 17 towering sixes in the very first game. The innings showcased power, maturity, and fearless intent, marking a defining breakthrough that accelerated his growth and ultimately opened the door for a fully deserved Ranji Trophy debut with Rajasthan.

From debut centuries to CSK exposure

Virat Kohli with Kartik Sharma. [Source - @kartiksharma2960/instagram]Virat Kohli with Kartik Sharma. [Source - @kartiksharma2960/instagram]

Kartik Sharma carried his youth dominance straight into senior cricket, smashing centuries on debut in both the Ranji Trophy and Vijay Hazare Trophy for Rajasthan. His Vijay Hazare knock stood out most. As an 18-year-old scoring 123 off 90 against Maharashtra while no teammate even crossed 20, instantly proving Kartik’s temperament.

That innings sent shockwaves through domestic circles, and IPL teams were already tracking him. But he remained ineligible for the mega auction, lacking senior team experience before registration and still being classified as a U19 player. Even then, he impressed multiple franchises with jaw-dropping trial performances, showcasing his striking abilities far beyond his age.

His standout trial outings earned him invaluable exposure with the Chennai Super Kings squad during the IPL 2025 season, giving him a taste of elite environments. Yet that was only the beginning. The real story unfolds now, as Kartik Sharma enters the following year ready to announce himself fully and take Indian cricket by storm.

Two Ranji tons and a growing reputation this season - Kartik Sharma is ready

Now at 19 years of age and armed with valuable senior-team experience, Kartik Sharma will finally enter the IPL auction fully eligible, and fully ready. Multiple franchises already have eyes on him, especially CSK, aware of how quickly he has evolved. His game has sharpened, his temperament has matured, and his confidence has improved.

As for form, Kartik has gone a level higher in Ranji Trophy this season, smashing centuries against both Mumbai and Delhi, two elite domestic attacks. These knocks were not flashes of talent, but were statements of class, composure, and hunger. With white-ball pedigree already proven and red-ball dominance emerging, Kartik Sharma enters this IPL auction as one of the most exciting young prospects in India.