CSK’s ₹14.2 crore signing of Kartik Sharma hints at a long-term wicketkeeper plan — does it signal the gradual end of MS Dhoni era?
As the Indian Premier League (IPL) enters deeply into its second decade, the perennial million-dollar question continues to linger: Is this finally the last year of MS Dhoni with the Chennai Super Kings? The former captain, who will be close to 45 by the time the 19th edition of the tournament gets underway, has endured a lean run with the bat over the past three seasons, producing only sporadic flashes of his old brilliance.
For much of their history, Chennai Super Kings have thrived on an experience-first philosophy, a cornerstone of their sustained success across the first 18 editions of the IPL. However, the franchise signalled a notable shift in approach at the IPL 2026 auction by splurging a joint-record INR 14.2 crore each on two uncapped players – a clear departure from a model that once prioritised proven pedigree over potential.
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CSK battle hard to sign Kartik Sharma for INR 14.2 crore
A prolific six-hitter from Bharatpur, Kartik Sharma burst onto the scene during the 2023 Rajasthan Premier League. CSK were sufficiently impressed by his power-hitting credentials to invest heavily in him at the auction, despite committing an identical sum to another uncapped Indian, Prashant Veer.
Mumbai Indians (MI) opened the bid for Kartik at the base price of INR 30 lakh. Later, Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) stretched the price to INR 2.80 crore. CSK then replaced LSG in the bidding war and beat KKR at INR 13 crore.
Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) briefly entered the fray, raising the paddle on three occasions to push the price higher before Chennai eventually secured theplayer for INR 14.2 crore. That as many as five franchises were involved, placing a combined total of 86 bids for the 19-year-old wicketkeeper, was a strong reflection of the regard in which his talent is held.
Kartik has already announced himself as a prolific power-hitter, smashing 28 sixes across just 11 T20 innings at a strike rate of 162.92. He has scored 334 runs at an average of 30.36, including two half-centuries, underlining his ability to combine explosiveness with substance. His penchant for clearing the ropes has translated seamlessly across formats as well. During the first phase of the 2025-26 Ranji Trophy, he finished as the joint-highest six-hitter with 16 maximums, alongside Puducherry’s Aman Khan. The trend continued in the previous Vijay Hazare Trophy season, where he topped the six-hitting charts with 26 maximums in just eight innings.
During the 2025 season, Kartik trained with CSK and demonstrated his ability to clear the ropes consistently, even against IPL-experienced bowlers. It was during that stint that he caught the attention of head coach Stephen Fleming, underlining his readiness for the next level.
“Kartik Sharma, we had him last year, and he did some training with us. We’ve been watching Kartik for some time, and I’ll go back to the scouting and the work that’s done in a lot of tournaments.” The former New Zealand captain, Stephen Fleming, said during the press conference at the IPL 2026 auction.
Kartik hopes to learn a lot from his Mahendra Singh Dhoni, viewing the opportunity as a defining phase in his young career. He later revealed that the moment his name came up at the auction was overwhelming, admitting he was in tears and remained emotional throughout the bidding process.
“It’s the first time that someone from my family has achieved this level of success. My family and relatives are very happy. I am excited to play with Mahi bhaiya (MS Dhoni) for the first time. And I will get to learn a lot from him. This was the first time I was bought in the IPL auction. I have no words to describe the feeling.” The Rajasthan-born addressed in the interaction with JioHotstar.
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CSK plan to groom Kartik Sharma in middle order for IPL 2026
Chennai’s IPL 2026 auction strategy has signalled a change in planning. Fleming has publicly acknowledged that they had been ‘a little slow’ to keep pace with the T20 format’s evolution. The shift came during the latest edition when Dewald Brevis and the uncapped pair of Ayush Mhatre and Urvil Patel injected freshness and energy into the squad.
“Sometimes you can hang on to theories and philosophies because of past success, but we identified that we needed to shift, and partly the work that we did last season, halfway through, has enabled us to continue that work done,” Flemming noted.
Meanwhile, in Urvil and their newly traded star, Sanju Samson, Chennai Super Kings have top-order wicket-keeper batters. But Kartik gives them an option in the middle order. With no Ravindra Jadeja no longer part of the setup after more than a decade, Chennai will need a dependable player to fill that void – a role that has been central to their balance and success. They tried various options in the last two seasons, including Sam Curran and Jamie Overton but none of them matched their expectation.
During Dhoni’s prime years, Chennai rarely appeared unsettled, even when the required run rate touched beyond eleven, so long as the former India captain was at the crease. That was the level of confidence and trust the Ranchi-born’s approach in the game. However, with advancing age, his once effortless timing has waned, and consistency has dipped, prompting the franchise to begin looking towards younger options to eventually fill that role.
Fleming also indicated that Dhoni, at the twilight stage of his career, would “eventually move on.” But in his presence, the side can groom young Kartik, who has an exceptional skill of picking the length early and smashing the big shots.
The franchise caught a glimpse of Kartik’s potential during their most recent campaign and wasted little time in securing his services. Now, the onus lies on CSK to groom the youngster carefully and integrate him into the best possible combination. The hope is that he can reproduce his explosive power-hitting on the biggest stages.
One thing, however, is clear: with the inclusion of Kartik Sharma and Sanju Samson, Chennai Super Kings have taken decisive steps toward shaping a new future.
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