Sarfaraz Khan Reacts After Years Of IPL Snub Ends At 2026 Players Auction

Indian batter Sarfaraz Khan is heading to Chennai Super Kings (CSK) after the five-time champions secured him at the IPL 2026 Mini-Auction on Tuesday for his base price of Rs 75 lakh. Khan, who has been in excellent form in domestic cricket, shared an emotional reaction to the news.

Just hours before the auction, Sarfaraz had showcased his talent by smashing 73 runs off 22 balls in a Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy match. Despite going unsold in the initial auction rounds, CSK eventually bid for Sarfaraz, making him their sixth pick.

Khan expressed his gratitude to CSK on Instagram, stating that the opportunity has given his career a "new life." He last played in the IPL for Delhi Capitals in 2023, in a match against Sunrisers Hyderabad.

This year's Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy has been fruitful for Sarfaraz, as he has accumulated 256 runs in six innings, boasting an average of 64.00 and a striking strike-rate of 182.85.

In other auction news, Kartik Sharma and Prashant Veer, both uncapped players, made history when CSK bought them for Rs 14.20 crore each. This acquisition makes them the joint most expensive uncapped players in the tournament's history. CSK also acquired West Indies all-rounder Akeal Hosein for his base price of Rs 2 crore.

Besides Sarfaraz Khan, CSK's acquisitions included Matt Henry and Rahul Chahar. Earlier, the team traded for wicket-keeper batter Sanju Samson in a high-profile move worth Rs 18 crore.

Ahead of the auction, CSK released Ravindra Jadeja and Sam Curran, who both moved to Rajasthan Royals (RR). Matheesha Pathirana was also released, freeing up Rs 13 crore for CSK. Ruturaj Gaikwad and MS Dhoni will continue to lead the franchise.