Who is Kartik Sharma who smashed 16 sixes in 6 innings ahead of IPL 2026?

Ahead of IPL 2026, a 19-year-old batter has been making headlines for swashbuckling batting. Kartik Sharma, a wicketkeeper-batter from Rajasthan, smashed a blazing 100 off 139 balls. The innings was laced with 7 sixes in their Ranji Trophy clash against Delhi on November 17 (Monday). 

It was not the first time Sharma has shown his brilliant, hard-hitting skills. During the Mumbai vs Rajasthan Ranji Trophy Group D at Jaipur, the emerging cricketer scored 139 off 192. In this innings, he hit thirteen 4s and three 6s and built a massive partnership with Deepak Hooda. According to stats, the young batter has already thrashed 16 sixes in just 6 innings. Before the IPL 2026, this type of stormy batting had attracted cricket fans' attention for obvious reasons. 

Who is Kartik Sharma? 

Despite the young age, because of the batting style and intensity, IPL scouts spotted him before. Chennai Super Kings (CSK) was among the first few IPL franchises that spotted the talent. According to media reports, earlier during IPL 2025, Kartik was spotted in a couple of CSK camps. He was among the exciting talents in the trail arranged by CSK. 

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He was not among those who have played plenty of cricket already. Sharma, so far, has played only seven T20s and smashed 201 runs in six innings, averaging 33.50, and scoring at a strike rate of 164.75 with 17 sixes. 

During the match against Delhi, he perhaps was in the most aggressive mode against a talented Delhi cricketer, Manan Bhardwaj. Against Bhardwaj, Sharma registered 40 off just 15 balls, including hitting four sixes. In early January this year, the middle-order batter scored a century against Railways in a Vijay Hazare Trophy match.