The IPL auction is still ongoing, but two names have already left fans stunned — Karthik Sharma and Prashant Veer.
The reason? Chennai Super Kings (CSK) spent a massive ₹14.2 crore on each of them, making it the highest amount ever paid for uncapped players in IPL history.
As expected, fans are now scrambling to find out who these players are, what they bring to the table, and why CSK showed such strong faith in them. Interestingly, earlier today, we had already released a list of uncapped players to watch out for, and both these names were on that list.
So, who exactly are these two young stars? Let’s take a closer look.
Karthik Sharma: CSK’s Future Wicketkeeper-Batter
Age: 19
Role: Wicketkeeper-batter
Batting Style: Right-handed
Batting Position: Middle order
State Team: Rajasthan
Karthik Sharma is a young and highly talented wicketkeeper-batter who has consistently impressed across formats.
Key Highlights:
- Scored a century on his Ranji Trophy debut against Uttarakhand — a statement start to his red-ball career.
- Delivered strong performances across all domestic formats for Rajasthan.
- Highest run-scorer for Rajasthan in the last Vijay Hazare Trophy, scoring 445 runs in 8 innings.
- Strike rate: 118.03 (excellent for List A cricket)
- In the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT):
- Scored 334 runs across 11 innings over two seasons
- Strike rate: 162.92
- Played primarily at No. 4, handling middle-order responsibilities well.
- In the Sher-e-Punjab T20 League 2024:
- 457 runs in 10 innings
- Strike rate: 168.01
At just 19 years old, Karthik Sharma already shows maturity beyond his age. For CSK, he looks like a long-term investment, especially as a future middle-order wicketkeeper-batter.
Prashant Veer: The Jadeja-Style All-Rounder?
Age: 20
State Team: Uttar Pradesh
Role: All-rounder
Batting Style: Left-handed
Bowling Style: Slow left-arm orthodox
Batting Position: Lower-middle order
Prashant Veer is another player who has caught everyone’s attention, and many are already calling him a potential Ravindra Jadeja replacement in the future.
Why the Comparison?
- Left-handed batter
- Slow left-arm spinner
- Economical bowler
- Capable of impactful middle-order contributions
Performance Highlights:
- UP T20 League (latest season):
- 320 runs
- 8 wickets in 10 matches
- Strike rate: 155.34
- Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy:
- 112 runs in 5 matches
- Strike rate: 169.69
What stands out most is his batting tempo. He doesn’t just score runs — he scores them quickly. Along with that, he bowls economically and offers great flexibility as an all-rounder.
Prashant Veer is clearly a promising young all-rounder who fits perfectly into CSK’s philosophy of grooming players for the long term.
CSK’s Masterstroke?
With the acquisition of Karthik Sharma and Prashant Veer, Chennai Super Kings have once again shown why they are considered one of the smartest franchises in IPL history.
- Two young
- Highly talented
- Multi-dimensional
- Future-ready players
₹14.2 crore each may sound huge today, but if these players develop as expected, this auction could be remembered as another CSK masterstroke.
Only time will tell — but the future certainly looks exciting. 🟡🔥
