Chennai Super Kings gave debuts to four players in their first match of IPL 2026 against Rajasthan Royals on Monday, with captain Ruturaj Gaikwad confirming at the toss that Sanju Samson, Kartik Sharma, Matt Henry and Matt Short will feature in the playing eleven.However, Samson and Short could not make an impact in their first appearance for CSK. Samson was bowled by Nandre Burger on a leg sweep attempt. The delivery, clocked at 140.2km/h, drifted away and hit the stumps as he departed for 6 off 7 balls.
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CSK is organizing a fan engagement event in Chepauk ahead of IPL 2026 Short also fell early, Sandeep Sharma caught at midwicket by Yashasvi Jaiswal.With wickets falling at the top, Kartik Sharma came to bat at number six in the sixth over. Kartik Sharma also failed on his IPL debut as he was out lbw to another IPL debutant, Brijesh Sharma. Kartik was dismissed for 18 runs off 15 balls.
Who is Kartik Sharma?
Karthik’s journey to the IPL has its roots in his early years in Bharatpur, Rajasthan. His father, Manoj Kumar, wanted to become a cricketer himself and pushed his son towards the sport. “He was five, holding a plastic bat in his hands and his words were, ‘Sir, chakke maarne waala cricketer banna hai’ (I want to be known as a sixer),” Lokendra Singh Chahar, who coached his son Deepak Chahar and nephew Rahul Chahar, told TimesofIndia.com earlier.Kartik, a wicket-taker known for hitting sixes, became the most expensive Indian uncapped player in the IPL auction when CSK signed him for Rs 14.2 crore.In the first phase of the 2025–26 Ranji season, he was the joint-sixth highest run-scorer in the 2024–25 Vijay Hazare Trophy competition. He also finished the 2025-26 Ranji Trophy season as the joint third highest six-man striker. After being a part of CSK’s wider squad in IPL 2025, he won a place in the main squad for IPL 2026.In the Rajasthan Royals match, he won the toss and chose to bowl first. Captain Riyan Parag said the decision was due to wet conditions after the recent rain.At the time of writing, CSK were 74 for 7 in 11 overs.
