CSK Unveils New Players in Thrilling IPL 2026 Auction

CSK’s Notable Acquisitions

The IPL 2026 auction held on December 16, 2025, in Abu Dhabi saw Chennai Super Kings (CSK) making waves by acquiring nine players. Among them, they invested heavily in two uncapped Indian players, Kartik Sharma and Prashant Veer, each fetching a whopping ₹14.20 crore. This marks a historic moment as they now share the record for the most expensive uncapped players in IPL auction history.

About the New Players

Kartik Sharma, just 19 years old, hails from Rajasthan and is recognized as a hard-hitting keeper-batter. In his 12 T20 matches, he accumulated a total of 334 runs, averaging 30.36 with a remarkable strike rate of 162.92, including two half-centuries. On the other hand, 20-year-old Prashant Veer is a talented left-arm spinner from Uttar Pradesh. His stats include 12 wickets in just nine T20 matches with an impressive economy rate of 6.45 and a strike rate of 167.16, scoring 112 runs.

Foreign Talent Joined CSK

In addition to these promising players, CSK also secured four overseas cricketers during the auction. This includes the West Indies left-arm spinner Akeal Hosein and New Zealand pacer Matt Henry, both acquired at ₹2 crore each. The franchise also welcomed Australian batter Matthew Short for ₹1.5 crore and New Zealand all-rounder Zak Foulkes for ₹75 lakh.

Strategic Budgeting

Before the auction, CSK had a purse of ₹43.40 crore and aimed to fill nine slots, which included four slots for overseas players.

CSK’s careful planning and strategic approach in the IPL 2026 auction promise to bolster their squad significantly. As the season approaches, fans are excited to see how these new talents will contribute to the team’s success.