'My father trained me...'- CSK recruit Karthik Sharma shares how his father used to train him ahead of IPL 2026

Kartik Sharma, who received a record-breaking pay cheque from Chennai Super Kings (CSK) as an uncapped Indian cricketer, expressed how his father used to train him. During a YouTube video with Jatin Sapru, Sharma revealed how he became a big hitter because of his father.

The 19-year-old said that he used to train under his father's observation from a very young age. Manoj Sharma, father of Karthik Sharma, who also dreamt of becoming a professional cricketer, knows the game very well and understands what modern-day cricket demands nowadays from a young cricketer. So, he used to tell Kartik to pay big shots. As the emerging batter said, his father really loves over-boundaries.

"My father trained me that way. He really loved sixes, and he used to say, “If you play defensive shots, I’ll scold you.” He told me to hit every ball. When I was young, he used to say that every ball should go into the stadium. If I defended, I would definitely get scolded," Kartik Sharma said about how he will feature for CSK in the IPL 2026 season.

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Kartik further said how his family members were enthusiastic for the IPL 2026 auction. There was a TV in Kartik's room, and for the auction day, his father set another TV in the hall.

Kartik Sharma reveals how his father supported him grow as a big-hitter

"There was a TV in my room, and my father also set up another TV in the hall. All my family members gathered, and even uncles and aunties from our neighbourhood came over," Kartik added.

For the Rajasthan-born, there were multiple interests in the auction room. Mumbai Indians, Lucknow Super Giants, Kolkata Knight Riders, Sunrisers Hyderabad, and Chennai Super Kings put on their paddles to rope in the player. Eventually, CSK confirmed his service for a whopping amount of INR 14.2 crore. In 12 T20s, Kartik has scored 334 runs at a strike rate of 164, hitting 28 sixes.