Kartik Sharma is set to captain Rajasthan’s Ranji Trophy team for the first time, stepping up after Manav Suthar’s departure to New Zealand for India ‘A’ duty. The 20-year-old wicketkeeper-batter from Bharatpur takes the reins at a moment when Rajasthan are riding a wave of confidence, having secured three points from a first-innings lead against Tamil Nadu in their opening Group D fixture.
Sharma’s rise has been rapid since his first-class debut two seasons ago, when he announced himself with a commanding 115 off 113 balls against Uttarakhand. That innings established his reputation as a batsman with a hungry approach to scoring runs. Last year, his six-hitting ability during pre-season trials attracted interest from several IPL franchises, culminating in a Rs14.20 crore contract with Chennai Super Kings.
On the eve of Rajasthan’s next match against Railways, Sharma reflected on assuming the captaincy. “I have captained Rajasthan during Under-19 days. I will try to make the team as comfortable as I can. There are a few seniors while most of them are my contemporaries in the side, so I will ensure I remain as humble with them as possible,” he said.
His batting displayed a new maturity in the recent fixture against Tamil Nadu, where he scored 42 off 75 balls in the second innings. Sharma attributes this development to his time with CSK, where exposure to high-pressure situations sharpened his match awareness and taught him patience. “When I went to Chennai I was a little injured and that is why my batting wasn’t going very well. Bhaiya [MS Dhoni] told me to focus on timing. He said that you aren’t someone who hits power shots, whatever your timing is, that is your power, so play according to that,” Sharma shared.
This advice has shifted Sharma’s style from relying on brute power to emphasizing timing and technique. While he retains his six-hitting ability, he is also working on grounded shots. “Six-hitting is definitely there, but I am also working on grounded shots and doing my practice for that,” he added.
The Rajasthan squad Sharma leads is notably youthful. He sees the team’s age profile as an advantage rather than a challenge. “Nothing negative, just the positive is that all are young boys, young blood, so everyone plays together,” he said.
Rajasthan’s confident start contrasts with Railways, who are looking to recover after conceding a first-innings lead to Uttarakhand in their opener. Sharma and his teammates will aim to build on their momentum as the tournament progresses.
“The target is to win as many matches as possible,” Sharma confirmed ahead of the Railways game, signalling his focus on results rather than individual accolades.
According to Yahoo Sports.