In a historic incident during the IPL 2026 auction, two young and uncapped players, Prashant Veer and Kartik Sharma, made the cricketing world go into a frenzy by being the joint most expensive uncapped Indian players.
Both the players were picked up by the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) for a record-breaking amount of INR 14.2 crores (approximately 1.7 million USD) each, shattering the previous record held by Avesh Khan, who had been acquired for INR 10 crores back in 2022.
The bidding has taken place in an auction held in Abu Dhabi today, Tuesday, and there have been fierce battles among some of the largest franchises, leading to those astonishing acquisitions. The bids for the two players indicate the rising significance of the uncapped Indians and the ever-changing nature of the world of IPL.
Prashant Veer: The Emerging Left-arm Spin All-rounder from Uttar Pradesh
Prashant Veer, a 20-year-old left-arm spin all-rounder from Uttar Pradesh, was one of the notable ones who impressed in the IPL 2026 auction.
Beginnng his bid battle at his original price of INR 30 lakhs, Veer’s auctions saw an initial tussle between Mumbai Indians (MI) and Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), soon turning into an auction battle among various teams such as Rajasthan Royals (RR), Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), before finally being won by CSK for an astonishing price of INR 14.2 crores.
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Veer, who has thus far participated in just nine domestic T20 games, has caught the interest of talent scouts through his commendable performances in the UP T20 League, Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT), and Uttar Pradesh’s Under-23 matches.
The talent this young player has displayed in terms of his bowling skills and batting abilities has made him and attractive pick for CSK, particularly given there recent trade of Ravindra Jadeja for Sanju Samson.
The coach of the team, Stephen Fleming, accepted Veer’s talent when he said that Veer is an all-rounder, and their team needed him. Veer’s selection showcases the long-term plan of the team to build up their domestic talent, as the coach underlined the importance of scouting players in different domestic tournaments.
Kartik Sharma, The Blazing Wicketkeeper-Batsman from
In another record-breaking bid, Kartik Sharma, a 19-year-old wicketkeeper batsman from Rajasthan, also got a staggering price tag of INR 14.2 crores. Similar to Veer, Kartik also had a base price of INR 30 lakhs; however, his auction process also saw initial bids from MI and LSG, until he got picked by CSK in a fiercely contested bidding war between KKR and SRH.
Kartik has made a reputation for himself as a finisher and possesses big-hitting talent. In 12 T20s that he has played so far, he has scored 334 runs for an average of 164 and has smacked 28 sixers. With this talent and his wicketkeeping skills, it was no surprise that he was acquired for such a low price in the auction.
CSK’s coach, Stephen Fleming, was pleased that they managed to retain Kartik’s services, pointing out that they had identified the player some time ago. He explained that Kartik had already tried out for the team before and that he was considered a very important part of CSK’s future plans.
This kind of strategy that the franchise has taken in the auction suggests that they place great emphasis on the importance of the contributions that the youngsters can make.
The Effect of Uncapped Indian Players in the IPL 2026 Auction
The IPL 2026 auction witnessed a revolutionary change in how uncapped Indian players have been looked upon in the market. The record-breaking bids made by Prashant Veer and Kartik Sharma represent the growing focus on developing young homegrown talent. The IPL has witnessed its fair share of success stories where individuals have done well despite a lack of experience at the international level.
Other unsold Indian players also performed well during this auction. Auqib Nabi, a fast bowler from Jammu and Kashmir, was picked by Delhi Capitals for 8.4 crore, which also had intense bidding by teams RR, RCB, and SRH.
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Nabi’s strong performance in Sohaib Mushtaq Ali Trophy, where he took 15 wickets in 7 matches, triggered his high bidding price. Hemang Badani, head coach for Delhi Capitals, said that Nabi’s consistency and all-round abilities made him a strong asset for his team.
In particular, Prashant Veer, Kartik Sharma, and other uncapped Indians, including Tejasvi Dahiya and Mukul Choudhary, assisted in creating a new trend in the auction proceedings of IPL, where a lot of money is being invested in potential Indians.
The Strategic Plan of CSK
Supporting Young and Talented Indians The Chennai Super Kings (CSK) team has always been identified with its emphasis on veteran players; however, with the advent of the IPL 2026 auctions, their policy seems to change as they actively pursued uncapped Indian players in the IPL auction.
With both Prashant Veer and Kartik Sharma being major acquisitions for the team, CSK appears to prepare for the upcoming periods by utilizing their talents while also contemplating growth and sustainability.
According to CSK’s coach Stephen Fleming, “It’s very important that we invest in the local talent,” and scouting is a part of this investment in grasping young talent. CSK’s attitude toward the IPL is not to reap short-term benefits but to build players who will be able to help them achieve success in the long run.
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