Kartik Sharma Fits CSK Plans After 54 and 41, Bangar Says
Kartik Sharma has turned two unbeaten innings into a stronger case inside Chennai Super Kings’ plans. After scoring 54 not out against Mumbai Indians and 41 not out against Delhi Capitals, he drew backing from Sanjay Bangar as a batter CSK can keep building around.
Sanjay Bangar on CSK
Bangar said Sharma is in the right setting because the franchise will keep giving him chances and he does not have to worry about his spot. “I think he’s in the right franchise as well because this is a franchise which will give him a lot of opportunities and he does not really have to worry about his spot,” he said.
He also pointed to the mood around the setup. “There’s a sense of security when you’re part of the CSK setup, and he’s grown with every game that he’s played.” For a batter who had only 58 runs from his first five IPL 2026 matches, that backing has arrived after a slow start rather than before one.
Kartik Sharma at No. 4
CSK bought Sharma for Rs 14.2 crore at the IPL auction, making him the joint-most expensive uncapped Indian player in IPL history. They also handed him the No. 4 role, and Bangar said that slot suits what the franchise has wanted for years.
“Somebody like him at No. 4 just fits the bill just about right for their plans,” Bangar said. He added that CSK has long backed players of that type and that Sharma is still developing, not finished. “He’s a work in progress. He’s going to get much, much better and CSK ideally wants a player like that. That has been their template for a number of years now.”
Back-to-back unbeaten knocks
What changed most was the way he batted in CSK’s last two matches. He made 54 not out against Mumbai Indians and followed it with 41 not out away to Delhi Capitals, both innings showing the same straight-bat approach Bangar singled out as a strength.
“What’s good to see is that he looks to hit a lot of balls down the ground with a straight bat and he backs his strength. So that to me is a standout feature,” Bangar said. That is the complication in Sharma’s story: the early return of 58 runs in five matches looked modest against the price tag, but the last two chases have shifted the discussion toward whether CSK’s patience is already paying off.
For now, the picture is simple. Sharma has moved from a slow start to two unbeaten contributions in succession, and CSK’s No. 4 has become a better fit for a batting plan that asks for security, time, and room to grow.
