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“Sold land, jewelleries, slept hungry”: Kartik Sharma’s father names sacrifices for IPL dream

Soumyajit Dutta

Kartik Sharma [Source: @kartiksharma2960/Instagram]Kartik Sharma [Source: @kartiksharma2960/Instagram]

For Kartik Sharma, cricket was a family dream, built on sacrifices that most can hardly imagine. His journey began not on a polished field, but on the worn floor of his home in Bharatpur.

At just two-and-a-half years old, he picked up a bat that shattered two photo frames. His father, a modest earner, Manoj, saw a spark. “That moment made us believe he was special,” he said.

The spark transformed to become the most expensive uncapped Indian player ever bought in the IPL auction.

On December 16, Chennai Super Kings placed a bet on Kartik with a 14.2 crore bid, and the 19-year-old wicketkeeper batter might actually whip up the strength to prove his worth, given the hardships he has borne since his childhood.

How family's sacrifices shaped Kartik's dream

Kartik Sharma in a local tournament [Source: @kartiksharma2960/Instagram]Kartik Sharma in a local tournament [Source: @kartiksharma2960/Instagram]

Kartik is the child of humble parents from Bharatpur village who earned just enough to meet the daily expenses. Manoj, his father, whose own cricket career was cut short by injury, dreamt of helping his son become a better cricketer.

“I couldn't complete my dream, so I decided my child would.” But with his modest income, the dream had a cost. A cost his family decided to pay in full.

To fund Kartik’s training and tournaments, they sold their plots and farmland in Bahnera village. His mother, Radha, parted with her jewellery. “Our income was limited, but we saw a dream — to make Kartik a cricketer, no matter the cost,” Manoj added.

Manoj then narrated an incident that tested their grit during a domestic tournament.

Manoj travelled with Kartik for a Gwalior tournament, only able to afford a stay for four or five matches. But Kartik played brilliantly, taking his team to the final.

With money gone, they had nowhere to go, and the father and the son spent nights in a shelter. “There was a day when we had to sleep hungry,” Manoj recalled. Only after winning the final and the prize money could they return home.

Kartik goes only onwards and upwards

Setbacks followed. After playing at the Under-14 and Under-16 levels, Kartik faced four long years without selection. Yet, he never stopped. “I just kept playing. My father kept training me,” Kartik later told IANS. His persistence led to Under-19 selection, and finally, the Ranji Trophy.

Then, on a Tuesday, the dream changed forever. From sleeping hungry, to becoming one of the costliest buys, the Kartik Sharma story unfolded.

Returning to Bharatpur, he was greeted with an emotional welcome at the Agarwal Dharamshala. The community celebrated their local hero. Through it all, Kartik Sharma remains grounded. He just completed his Class 12 and insists that he wants to prioritise studies beside cricket as well.