The lengthy apprenticeship of CSK’s newest recruit, Kartik Sharma

That morning, the Aravali Cricket Membership on the outskirts of Jaipur sat inside a fog thick sufficient to blur faces at arm’s size.

It was round 9 o’clock. With visibility near zero, the academy college students stacked their package luggage in a single nook and waited it out, sipping heat drinks or slurping piping-hot prompt noodles. Excessive climate situations meant their common coaching routine had gone for a toss. Because the younger cricketers engaged in banter, a automobile pulled up close to the academy entrance.

The change was rapid.

Moments earlier, the kids had been joking round. Now, they rushed in direction of the bottom, some scrambling to tie their shoelaces as they went. “ Chalo, chalo, Kartik bhaiya aa gayein hain… (Let’s get going, brother Kartik is right here),” shouted one of many boys, as his mates gulped down the final of their noodles and jogged out to stretch.

Inside minutes, the academy premises got here alive. Kartik bhaiya parked his automobile at one finish of the bottom, slung a small backpack over his shoulder, and slipped into his routine, coaching beneath the watchful eye of his coach, Vijay Golada.

That’s how most mornings unfold for Kartik Sharma.

Ever since he was picked by the Chennai Tremendous Kings (CSK) on the Indian Premier League (IPL) public sale for Rs 14.2 crore, Kartik’s life has modified. Or so one would assume. The shy 19-year-old refuses to see it that method. “I’m nonetheless the identical,” he says with a smile, pausing briefly between units of push-ups.

A finger harm pressured him to overlook the Tremendous League stage of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and the Vijay Hazare Trophy. Although he has resumed coaching, there may be nonetheless no readability on whether or not he can be slot in time for Rajasthan’s ultimate two Ranji Trophy fixtures.

For now, Kartik’s focus lies elsewhere: taking advantage of his alternative at CSK.

Breaking straight into the taking part in eleven won’t be simple, notably with two established wicketkeeping choices in Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Sanju Samson already within the squad.

His probabilities, then, might come as a specialist batter. Identified for his means to clear the ropes with ease, Kartik may strengthen CSK’s center order and develop right into a finisher. “I’m not pondering too far forward. I’ve simply resumed my coaching, and the plan is to take issues step-by-step,” Kartik tells Sportstar.

Hailing from Bharatpur, a small city in Rajasthan greatest identified for its chook sanctuary, Kartik isn’t notably articulate and sometimes searches for phrases. That hesitation, nonetheless, disappears the second he walks out to bat.

Through the 2024–25 season, Kartik captained Rajasthan’s Underneath-19 aspect and stood out within the Vinoo Mankad and Cooch Behar Trophy. He scored 492 runs within the one-day competitors, together with a double century. A run of constant performances earned him a spot within the senior workforce. Throughout eight First-Class matches, Kartik has scored 479 runs, whereas including 445 runs in 9 Record A video games and 334 runs in 12 T20s. The numbers might need been increased however for the harm.

Kartik Sharma was the joint-highest six-hitter within the first section of the 2025-26 Ranji season and the best six-hitter within the earlier Vijay Hazare Trophy. 
| Photograph Credit score:
R.V. MOORTHY

These setbacks, Kartik says, have formed him.

“After I began taking part in cricket, my father took me to an academy the place coaches felt I used to be too small and didn’t have the expertise. That was an early setback. However my father didn’t surrender,” he says.

His father, Manoj, a die-hard cricket fan, and his mom, Radha, did every part they may to make sure their son pursued the game. In a small city like Bharatpur, the place sources had been restricted, the trail was by no means simple. With assist from Bharatpur District Cricket Affiliation secretary Shatrudhan Tiwary, Manoj ensured Kartik acquired the precise publicity.

“My father did every part that he may to make me a cricketer. It was very difficult for him, since sources had been restricted and we weren’t financially robust. However that was by no means a deterrent for him,” Kartik says.

Realising there have been few high quality academies close by, Manoj took a four-year-old Kartik to the academy of Lokendra Singh Chahar, father of India worldwide Deepak Chahar, in Agra, about 56 kilometres away. “Even Lokendra sir wasn’t satisfied whether or not I’d be capable of play with senior boys. I used to be the youngest, so he frightened the ball may hit me. However after watching me bat, he took me alongside,” Kartik says, smiling.

Kartik Sharma as a younger batter, helmet on, studying the sport one session at a time.
| Photograph Credit score:
Particular association

Chahar remembers these days effectively. Initially hesitant, the seasoned coach quickly realised the teenager had one thing particular. “His speciality was that he may hit sixes at will. He was fearless, which was uncommon at that age,” Chahar says.

As soon as he was satisfied of Kartik’s potential, Chahar enrolled him on the academy. “Regardless of monetary challenges, my father despatched me to Agra, the place we rented a home. I educated beneath Lokendra sir by the week, returned to Bharatpur for just a few days, and attended college. That’s how I balanced cricket and research,” says Kartik, who studied until Class 12 and now hopes to finish his commencement.

This routine continued for greater than a decade. “I nonetheless go to sir’s academy every now and then and prepare there,” he says. “For a younger cricketer, it’s simple to get carried away by early success or weighed down by failure. Lokendra sir took care of my psychological conditioning too.” Kartik remembers how his coach would spend an hour after coaching on daily basis, engaged on mindset. “He advised me to purpose massive and deal with fulfilling these goals. That has helped me over time.”

It got here at a price. Manoj bought a plot of land and farmland in Bahnera village, whereas Radha bought her jewelry to assist their son’s coaching. By means of harsh winters and unforgiving summers, Manoj accompanied Kartik to tournaments throughout the nation.

Kartik Sharma, alongside his father Manoj, whose presence has adopted each stage of the journey.
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Particular association

Kartik remembers one such occasion once they went hungry. “It was throughout an invitational event in Gwalior,” he says. Manoj had anticipated the competitors to finish in a few days, however Kartik’s performances carried the workforce to the title. On the eve of the ultimate, father and son had no cash left for meals. “It’s due to my mother and father’ sacrifice that I’m right here at present,” Kartik says.

Chahar agrees. “Kartik would prepare 5 to 6 hours a day, however the self-belief and fearlessness got here from his father. He sacrificed every part to make his son a cricketer. It proves that if you need one thing wholeheartedly, issues ultimately fall into place,” he says.

Kartik Sharma throughout his early coaching years, when the routine was already in place.
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Particular association

Whereas taking part in native tournaments in Agra and Bharatpur, Kartik met Vikas Yadav, co-owner of Aravali Cricket Membership, by likelihood. “In a single event in Jaipur, a workforce was wanting a participant and referred to as me in. I scored 60 off 20 balls. Vikas bhaiya watched that sport and provided me a spot at his academy at no cost,” Kartik says.

At 14, Kartik moved to Jaipur, emerged as the highest batter within the privately run Aravali Premier League, and stayed on at Vikas’ academy. “I lived on the hostel, and Vikas bhaiya ensured I had every part I wanted. Even Lokendra sir felt it will be higher if I stayed right here and appeared for Rajasthan’s age-group trials,” Kartik says.

Over the past 5 years, Kartik has steadily chased his dream. From being one other promising teenager, he has change into some of the talked-about cricketers from Rajasthan.

A younger Kartik Sharma throughout his early years in Agra, when cricket nonetheless shared house with on a regular basis routines.
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Particular association

On the Aravali membership, he educated alongside Akash Singh, Ashok Sharma and Mukul Sharma, all of whom earned massive IPL contracts this 12 months.

“We don’t even discuss concerning the IPL,” Kartik says, smiling. “We spend time collectively and simply get pleasure from our cricket.”

When in Jaipur, Kartik stays in rented lodging near the academy with 5 different gamers. He’s a eager film buff. “I like watching motion pictures. Every time I get time, I watch movies with Ashok bhaiya and the others. I like motion motion pictures,” he says. “A number of weeks in the past, we watched Dhurandhar and liked it.”

He isn’t a lot of a foodie, preferring a disciplined food plan that aligns together with his coaching regime. Mornings, in any case, arrive shortly right here.

For now, although, none of that appears pressing. There’s coaching to complete, a routine to return to, one other morning to start a lot the identical method because the final. Kartik has discovered, early on, that turning up issues greater than the place it would ultimately lead.

Printed on Jan 14, 2026