IPL 2026's rise of young talents like Kartik Sharma and Prashant Veer reshapes Indian cricket

The IPL 2026 season has introduced two new uncapped players, Kartik Sharma and Prashant Veer, as the most expensive signings in league history at £1.15m each.

Trophy's wider impact The IPL trophy's inscribed motto highlights its role beyond changing cricket's financial and global landscape. The tournament now stands as the primary route for young Indian cricketers to showcase their skills. Every year, it unveils fresh uncapped players, many of whom later earn national team selection. The current season follows this well-established pattern, producing standout performers like Kartik Sharma and Prashant Veer. ## Kartik Sharma's rise Kartik Sharma, aged 19, emerged from a small village in Rajasthan with limited first-class appearances before becoming the IPL's most expensive uncapped signing. His father, a local cricketer running a small business, prioritized his son's cricketing dreams over his modest job. Kartik's early coach, Shatrughan Tiwari, noted the family's financial struggles but emphasized Kartik's early talent. 'Kartik is from a poor family. His father used to run a small private job in a school, but when Kartik started playing, he left his job and used to bring him to the ground and train with him all day,' Tiwari recalled. ## Shaping a hard-hitter Shatrughan Tiwari and his team identified Kartik's rare ability to hit sixes early in his career. Instead of following conventional methods, they molded him into a powerful bottom-handed hitter. 'Kartik had a rare ability to hit sixes from the very start, so we decided instead of the usual approach, we will make him a hard-hitter and a bottom-handed player,' Tiwari explained. 'We wanted him to become a player who goes out and hits it big.' ## Trial performances seal deals Kartik's performances in trial matches convinced IPL franchises of his potential. During an RCB trial, he smashed 18 sixes, some clearing Chinnaswamy Stadium's roof. Similar displays in CSK trials triggered a competitive bidding war at the auction. His domestic cricket reputation as a powerful hitter further cemented his value to franchises. ## Prashant Veer's journey Prashant Veer, another breakthrough player in IPL 2026, hails from Uttar Pradesh, where his father worked as a village teacher struggling to fund his cricketing ambitions. Coach Rajiv Goyal stepped in to support Prashant's aspirations. His breakthrough arrived in the UP T20 League, a state-level competition increasingly recognized as an IPL talent hotspot. 'In the UPT20 League, he performed really well. I think that is where people started talking about him. These leagues have played a big role. They help players come forward and get noticed,' Goyal noted. ## State leagues as talent pipelines The UP T20 League and similar state-level competitions have become critical scouting grounds for IPL franchises. Rajiv Goyal highlighted their importance in exposing players to scouts. 'Scouts now go everywhere, to leagues and domestic cricket, so it is always in the mind of the player that someone is watching,' he said. Traditionally, players progressed through age-group cricket and the Ranji Trophy before gaining recognition, but the IPL has drastically accelerated this pathway in terms of both exposure and financial rewards. ## Cricket's ladder for social mobility Bijou George, head of talent scouting at Kolkata Knight Riders, compared the IPL's impact on Indian cricketers to how basketball or boxing transformed opportunities for African-Americans in the US. 'What baseball, basketball and boxing were for an African-American living in America - it offered him a ladder to come up the social hierarchy, financial hierarchy - the same thing is what cricket is doing for India. It gives them a reason to dream,' George explained. He added that stories of players like Hardik Pandya inspire young cricketers to pursue their dreams relentlessly. ## Expansion of state-run T20 leagues The IPL's influence has spurred the creation of multiple state-run T20 leagues across India, broadening the talent pool. George pointed out the scale of these leagues: 'Right now, there are 18 state leagues going on, with a minimum of six teams per league. Six teams, 15 players, just imagine the pool.' He also noted challenges in transparent selections within state associations, leading to the emergence of players who surpass traditional state team selections. These state franchise tournaments play a crucial role in identifying undiscovered talent. ## Emerging from non-traditional zones The IPL's talent distribution has shifted significantly, with more players emerging from non-traditional cricketing centers. George highlighted regions like Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Delhi as key contributors. 'Talent in India is concentrated in places like UP, Rajasthan and Delhi,' he said. 'That's why franchises focus a lot on these leagues. UP, in particular, has a very strong league, and many players who have done well there, like Prashant Veer and Kartik Sharma. Kashmir is another region we focus on because a lot of good fast bowlers and hard-hitters are coming from there.' ## Nationwide talent spread in numbers Data reflects the IPL's role in diversifying India's cricketing talent base. In 2008, most players came from traditional hubs such as Maharashtra (21), Delhi (14), Tamil Nadu (11), and Karnataka (10). By 2026, the landscape had expanded dramatically, with Uttar Pradesh matching Maharashtra at 21 players. Rajasthan contributed 13, Madhya Pradesh 10, Jammu and Kashmir rose from zero to six, and Bihar grew from two to six players. ## Impact on India's T20 success This expanded talent base has directly contributed to India's recent achievements in T20 cricket, including back-to-back World Cup titles. George emphasized the depth of India's talent pool: 'India's talent pool is so big that you could field two strong teams, India A and India B, and both would reach the latter stages of a world tournament.' He concluded that nearly all new Indian players in the last decade have come through the IPL ecosystem, calling it a blessing for Indian cricket.