The IPL 2026 auction delivered one of its most extraordinary moments when two uncapped teenagers sent the bidding into overdrive. Prashant Veer, a 20-year-old left-arm spin allrounder from Uttar Pradesh, and Kartik Sharma, a 19-year-old wicketkeeper from Rajasthan, shattered the record for the most expensive uncapped Indian players ever after Chennai Super Kings (CSK) splurged INR 14.2 crore on each of them in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday.
Their deals comfortably eclipsed the previous benchmark of INR 10 crore, set by fast bowler Avesh Khan in 2022.
Veer and Kartik were at the centre of a blockbuster day for uncapped Indian talent. Jammu and Kashmir quick Auqib Nabi earned INR 8.4 crore from Delhi Capitals (DC), while Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) invested INR 5.2 crore in 23-year-old pace allrounder Mangesh Yadav. Several others also crossed the INR 1-crore mark, underlining the growing value placed on domestic scouting and depth.
Veer’s rise was the most dramatic. With a modest base price of INR 30 lakh, his bidding quickly spiralled into a multi-team contest involving Mumbai Indians, Lucknow Super Giants, Rajasthan Royals and Sunrisers Hyderabad before CSK finally prevailed. Despite having just nine domestic T20 matches to his name, Veer’s performances across the UPT20 League, Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and Uttar Pradesh Under-23 cricket had already put him firmly on the radar, earning him trial opportunities with CSK.
CSK were far from done. From the very next set, they went equally hard for Kartik Sharma, whose base price was also INR 30 lakh. Another intense bidding war unfolded, with MI, LSG, KKR and SRH all in the mix before CSK sealed the deal at the same INR 14.2-crore mark. Kartik, who has built a reputation as a powerful lower-order finisher, has scored 334 runs in 12 T20s at a strike rate of 164, smashing 28 sixes. He is also managed by JSW Sports, which represents several elite athletes, including Olympic champion Neeraj Chopra.
CSK coach Stephen Fleming explained the franchise’s thinking behind the bold investments. He revealed that both players had been closely tracked through extensive scouting networks and fit into a broader shift in CSK’s approach following lessons learned during IPL 2025.
“We knew if we could build a strong core of local players, the team would be in good shape,” Fleming said. “Sometimes you have to invest time — and money — in talent you believe in, not just for now but for the future.”
The first big uncapped buy of the auction had come earlier, when DC outbid multiple franchises to secure Auqib Nabi. Unlike the teenage sensations, the 29-year-old fast bowler has been a consistent domestic performer, taking 15 wickets in seven matches in the ongoing Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy at an economy rate under eight.
DC head coach Hemang Badani pointed to the competitive bidding as validation of Nabi’s potential, noting that players only reach such prices when multiple teams see genuine value.
Mangesh Yadav’s rise followed a similar pattern. His price climbed rapidly from a INR 30-lakh base to INR 5.2 crore after a bidding duel between RCB and SRH. Though he has played just two domestic T20s, his performances in the Madhya Pradesh Premier League clearly caught the attention of franchises.
By the end of the day, the message from the auction room was unmistakable: India’s uncapped talent is no longer a gamble, but a prized commodity — and this new generation is already commanding life-changing rewards.
