Kartik Sharma’s ₹14.20 crore IPL deal with Chennai Super Kings in 2026 didn’t come from talent alone. It came from a father who slept hungry so his son could eat before matches. From a mother who sold her wedding jewellery piece by piece to pay for coaching. From a family that sold farmland, took high-interest loans, and worked odd jobs for nearly a decade to keep one son’s cricket dream alive.
The wicketkeeper-batter from Bahnera village, Bharatpur, went unsold multiple times before CSK picked him at the IPL 2026 Mini Auction in Abu Dhabi. His base price was ₹30 lakh. The final bid: ₹14.20 crore. Behind that number sits a family that gambled everything on a dream most people would have given up on years ago.
Kartik Sharma’s Parents and Siblings: The Family Behind His Success
Kartik Sharma’s father, Manoj Sharma, played cricket at the district level as a bowler. An injury ended his career early. After cricket, he taught tuition to local kids, sold cold drinks in summer, and took whatever work came his way. When Kartik showed interest in cricket, Manoj saw a second chance.
He became Kartik’s first coach. He bought a bowling machine on loan. He purchased land to set up practice nets, then sold it when money ran out. He sold their farmland in Bahnera village to buy cricket equipment, land that had been the family’s primary income source.
Media reports say Manoj skipped meals so Kartik could eat before matches. He slept on the railway station floors during tournaments. Someone sabotaged their practice setup multiple times, stealing equipment, damaging nets, and even setting them on fire. Manoj rebuilt everything each time.
During one tournament in Gwalior, Manoj and Kartik had no money for accommodation. They stayed at Agarwal Dharamshala and Khirni Ghat. On the final day, they had no money for food. The prize money from reaching the final bought their train tickets home.
Kartik’s mother’s name hasn’t been reported publicly. She sold her jewellery to fund his cricket training, not once, but piece by piece over several years as money ran out. Wedding gifts and family heirlooms all went to pay for coaching fees, equipment, and tournament travel. While Manoj and Kartik travelled for cricket, she ran the household and dealt with neighbours questioning why the family was gambling everything on one son’s uncertain future.
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Kartik Sharma’s Siblings: Two Brothers, Different Dreams
Kartik Sharma has two brothers, though their names have not been publicly disclosed. One brother is following in Kartik’s footsteps and playing cricket. The other brother put his studies first because he knew that not everyone in the family could follow the same dream. The family made a choice to fully support Kartik’s cricket while also making sure that the other brothers had other options.
The brother who wants to play cricket is a batsman, not a wicketkeeper. The family made sure the two brothers didn’t compete in the same role, which was a smart way to cut down on sibling rivalry and give each brother his own identity in the sport.
Education and Early Career
Kartik completed his Class 12 education while playing cricket. Kartik balanced both, in contrast to many young cricket players who completely give up on their studies. He went to school, took tests, and kept up his training. Recognising that cricket careers might end abruptly, he made the decision to seek graduation after completing Class 12.
The cricketer began offering tuition to younger kids in order to help pay for his cricket expenses and lessen the financial strain on his father. The money wasn’t much, but it covered his travel costs and equipment needs. Some of those students later attended his public ceremony in Bharatpur after the IPL auction. One student told reporters, “Sir used to practice after teaching us.”
Cricket Journey: Four Years in the Wilderness
Kartik’s cricket career began when he was 14 years old. He was a wicketkeeper-batter, which means he had to have quick reflexes and play well all the time. He got through Under-16 without a problem. After that, he played Under-19 and finally got the attention of the Bharatpur District Cricket Association. But getting noticed and getting selected are different things. Kartik went nearly four years without consistent selection in major teams.
He occasionally played domestic cricket. Although he had a few appearances in Ranji Trophy games, he never made a name for himself. Also, his injury didn’t quite support his rise either. He was absent for weeks due to a finger injury that required medical attention.
Kartik worked with coach Lokendra Singh Chahar during this period, and he was always willing to lend a hand. Chahar recognised Kartik’s ability to smash hard and hold onto wickets. Even though he had no picks, he encouraged the Bharatpur-born cricketer to keep improving. During the lean years, that coaching relationship became significant.
By the time the IPL 2026 Mini Auction happened, Kartik had built a resume that included domestic cricket experience, wicketkeeping skills, and a reputation for hitting big sixes. But most people didn’t know his name. His base price was ₹30 lakh, the minimum for uncapped players. Chennai Super Kings saw something others missed. They bid ₹14.20 crore.
Family’s Role in Kartik Sharma’s Career
Kartik’s family didn’t just cheer for his cricket. They paid for it, ran it, and made sacrifices for it in ways that go beyond what most parents do.
Manoj borrowed money from family and friends and local lenders at high interest rates. He operated on thin margins with no guarantee of return. When people asked why he was gambling the family’s future on one son’s uncertain career, he had no answer except belief.
The family’s role extended to emotional management. Cricket careers involve constant rejection. Players get dropped, ignored, overlooked. Kartik faced all of that. His family kept him mentally stable during the four years he stayed out of major teams. They convinced him that the breakthrough would come if he kept working.
The family also made strategic decisions. They made sure Kartik finished his schooling. They urged him to become financially independent by teaching tuition. They supported one brother’s cricket while pushing the other toward academics. That kind of planning requires foresight, which most struggling families don’t have.
After the IPL auction, Kartik went back to Bharatpur. The family held a public ceremony at Agarwal Dharamshala, where they had stayed before because they couldn’t afford a hotel. The whole town had a party. Kartik’s father stood on stage, and the mother, who rarely spoke in public, finally felt like her sacrifices were worth it.
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Personal Life and Relationships
In 2026, at the age of 24, Kartik is still totally focused on cricket. He keeps his private life to himself, and no information about his romantic relationships is available to the public. He has not participated in any celebrity events or interviews outside of cricket-related media, and his social media presence is still relatively low.
Manoj, his father, is still the person he is closest to. The two spent years together at practice fields, on long bus rides to tournaments, and in cheap places to stay during matches. That bond is more than just father-son; it’s also coach-student, mentor-protege, and shared dream. It’s also important to talk about his relationship with coach Lokendra Singh Chahar. Chahar believed in Kartik during the years when selectors didn’t, providing technical training, mental support, and practical advice.
Fun Facts About Kartik Sharma’s Family
Kartik’s father, Manoj, once played cricket at the district level as a bowler, not a batsman. The injury that ended his career was similar to the finger injury that later affected Kartik. They both got better, but the fact that they both got hurt shows that cricket injuries run in the family.
The family sold some land in Bahnera village, but they kept a small piece for their home. That choice shows that they took a big risk but not a stupid one. They always maintained a safety net, however thin.
Manoj worked as a cold drink seller during the summer to earn extra money. He set up a small stall near the cricket grounds in Bharatpur. The irony wasn’t lost on him, selling drinks while his son practised a few meters away.
When Kartik got the IPL deal, his mother’s first reaction wasn’t celebration. According to family members, she cried. Years of holding everything together, managing social judgment, and believing in an uncertain dream finally paid off. The tears were of relief.
The brother pursuing cricket plays as a batsman, not a wicketkeeper. The family made sure the two brothers didn’t compete directly in the same role.
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