'Chhota packet, bada dhamaka’: Kartik Sharma’s journey to CSK deal; picked for Rs 14.20 crore

NEW DELHI: Lokendra Singh Chahar vividly remembers the time helium saw a five-year-old Kartik sitting connected his father’s shoulders, holding a integrative bat, astatine his academy successful Agra.Kartik Sharma’s father, Manoj Kumar — a cricket tragic himself — wanted his lad to go a cricketer, a imagination helium had but failed to fulfil.

“He was five, holding a integrative bat successful his hands, and his words were: ‘Sir, chakke maarne waala cricketer banna hai’ (I privation to beryllium known arsenic a six-hitter),” Lokendra Singh Chahar, who has trained his lad Deepak Chahar and nephew Rahul Chahar, told TimesofIndia.com.On Tuesday, the Rajasthan wicketkeeper-batter was sold to Chennai Super Kings (CSK) for ₹14.20 crore aft a fierce bidding war.“I was calm. I americium not feeling anything. The radical successful my household are jumping with joyousness — they’ve been doing that since my batting clips went viral connected societal media,” the 19-year-old told TimesofIndia.com aft his IPL windfall.

“The archetypal happening I volition bash present is spell to the nearest saccharine store and past sojourn the homes of the radical who person supported maine the astir connected this journey. There are six oregon 7 specified people, and I volition spell to each of their houses,” helium says.The teen is besides readying a speedy travel to Agra from his hometown, Bharatpur, to wage his respects to the Chahars.

If Lokendra Singh Chahar trained Kartik, it was Deepak Chahar whose bat Kartik inactive uses — and who, 5 years ago, gave him a brace of wicketkeeping gloves and said: “Keeping karna commencement kar, nahi toh ek magnitude ka subordinate reh jaayega” (Start keeping, oregon you’ll stay a one-dimensional player).

“I ne'er had immoderate relation models. I grew up watching Deepak bhaiya and Rahul bhaiya. Both went connected to play for India. I ne'er had to look anyplace else,” helium laughs.“I wasn’t a wicketkeeper earlier. Four years ago, Deepak bhaiya asked maine if I wanted to support wickets. I said, ‘Yes bhaiya, I volition bash it,’” recalls Sharma.Kartik has been the toast of IPL franchises and was called for trials by 7 teams. He smashed 18 sixes astatine the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) proceedings and impressed Dinesh Karthik astatine the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) camp.

After watching Kartik bat, Karthik told the teen ne'er to beryllium satisfied, saying helium was meant for greatness.“Barring GT, Punjab and LSG, I’ve fixed trials for each different team,” helium says.“When I went for the RCB trial, I met Dinesh Karthik. He told maine to enactment harder and ne'er stop. He said I person everything successful maine to play for India. He told maine that adjacent if I get a large IPL contract, I should not beryllium satisfied due to the fact that the entity is the limit.

I’m highly grateful for his words,” says Kartik.

Lokendra Singh Chahar believes his ward volition spell a agelong way, arsenic this is conscionable the beginning.“He ne'er runs distant from hard work. Yes, his begetter trained him and I coached him for 14 years, but it’s his hunger that has helped him scope this level,” says Chahar senior.“At the property of eight, helium utilized to look 500 balls a day. He was a earthy power-hitter. When helium turned 13, helium played for our club’s elder squad successful tournaments wherever the prize wealth was ₹1–2 lakh.“I retrieve him scoring 300 runs successful a 50-over section match,” helium recalls.Chahar besides admits that, similar Deepak and Rahul, Kartik has faced his wrath.“I’ve scolded him a batch — and yes, I’ve utilized my hands too. Shaitaan hai ek fig ka (He’s highly naughty),” Chahar laughs.“In 1 match, helium won the flip and opted to bat connected a greenish apical erstwhile our strategy was to bowl. When I confronted him, helium said, ‘Sir, yeh log retired ho jaayenge, phir mujhe batting nahi milegi’ (They’ll get retired cheaply, and I won’t get to bat).

There were times we mislaid matches due to the fact that of his approach. He targeted 300 runs successful each game,” says Chahar.

Kartik credits his six-hitting prowess to his father.“My begetter utilized to deed large sixes. He was a cricketer himself but aboriginal quit. He worked connected my power-hitting. From the property of five, erstwhile we moved to Agra, helium utilized to propulsion maine 200–300 balls aft my training. His lone acquisition was: ‘Chakke maar bas’ (Only look to deed sixes),” says Kartik.However, Chahar explains the concealed down Kartik’s power.“His wrists and forearms are precise strong. He generates fantabulous power. His bat plaything is exceptional, and supra all, his basal is solid,” explains Chahar.Chahar besides recalls a speech betwixt himself, Deepak and Kartik that pushed the youngster towards becoming a wicketkeeper and finisher.“Deepak warned him that keeping is simply a thankless job. If you driblet a catch, radical volition maltreatment you; if you instrumentality a blinder, they’ll accidental it was the gloves.

No 1 enjoys keeping — not adjacent Mahi bhai (MS Dhoni). But if you tin bat astatine No. 5 oregon 6 and support wickets, your worth increases. You’ll gain much successful the IPL,” says Chahar.Deepak’s words proved prophetic arsenic Kartik created a paddle disturbance successful Abu Dhabi.“He’s similar Virender Sehwag,” says Lokendra Singh Chahar.“Isko koi farq nahi padta kaunsa format hai (He doesn’t attraction which format he’s playing),” helium adds.Rajasthan caput manager Anshu Jain calls him “chhota packet, bada dhamaka.”“Two years ago, helium was playing U-19 cricket erstwhile idiosyncratic told maine an exceptional endowment was coming through. When helium hits the ball, it stays hit. You’ll spot him playing for India precise soon,” says Jain.Kartik’s begetter Manoj, engaged receiving guests amid the bushed of dhols, present wants his lad to imagination successful Indian colours.“The IPL is done. Now helium should imagination of playing for India — and past play each 3 formats for the country,” helium says.“I don’t person words. This is simply a life-changing infinitesimal for each of us,” helium adds.Kartik says his begetter has go affectional but vows to emergence to the situation laid earlier him.“I privation to play each 3 formats, but for now, I conscionable privation the opportunity. Whichever format it is, I conscionable privation to play,” helium says.