Kartik Sharma became the joint most expensive uncapped Indian player in IPL history as Chennai Super Kings shelled out Rs 14.2 crore for the youngster in the auction. With that price tag came huge expectations, scrutiny and pressure. But after a slow start to IPL 2026, Kartik is finally beginning to justify the faith that CSK have shown in him and former India cricketer Sanjay Bangar believes there may not have been a better franchise for the youngster to develop his game.
Kartik managed just 58 runs from his first five matches and looked like another young player struggling to adapt to the intensity and demands of the IPL. Still, unlike many franchises that are quick to move on from underperforming youngsters, CSK remained patient.
The franchise not only stuck with him, but also entrusted him with one of the most important roles in the batting order, No. 4.
That trust began to pay off.
In the last two matches of Chennai Super Kings Kartik looked much more confident and composedwho are leading successful chases with unbeaten strikes of 54 against Mumbai Indians and 41 against Delhi Capitals away from home.
More than the runs themselves, the maturity and composure in these innings stood out. According to Bangar, this growth is directly linked to the environment that CSK provides.
“I think he’s in the right franchise because it’s a franchise that will give him a lot of opportunities and he doesn’t really have to worry about his place,” Bangar said on Jiostar.
“When you are part of the CSK set-up, you feel safe and he grew with every game he played.”
Bangar also pointed out the technical aspect of Kartik’s batting that impressed him.
“It’s good to see that he looks like he’s hitting a lot of ground balls with a straight bat and is backing up his power. So that’s an excellent quality for me,” he explained.
The former Indian batting coach believes that Kartik is still only scratching the surface of his potential and fits in perfectly with CSK players who traditionally come back for a long haul.
“He’s a work in progress. He’s going to get much, much better and CSK ideally want a player like that. That’s been their template for many years now,” Bangar said.
“Someone like him at No.4 just fits their plans.
for now ČSK’s patience with Kartik Sharma is starting to look like a long-term investment that could pay off in a massive way in the coming years.
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Issued by:
Amar Panicker
Published on:
May 6, 2026 11:04 AM IST
