Indian batter Sarfaraz Khan expressed relief and gratitude after being picked by the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) at the IPL 2026 mini auction on Tuesday. The five-time champions signed the 27-year-old at his base price of ₹75 lakh, ending his anxious wait after he went unsold in the early rounds.
Reward for Strong Domestic Performances
CSK’s decision came on the back of Sarfaraz’s impressive domestic form. Just hours before the auction, he smashed a 22-ball 73 in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, underlining his rich run of form.
In the ongoing tournament, Sarfaraz has amassed 256 runs in six innings, averaging 64.00 with a strike rate of 182.85.
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Emotional Response From the Batter
Soon after being picked, Sarfaraz took to social media to thank the franchise.
“Thank you so much, CSK, for giving me new life,” he wrote in an Instagram post, reflecting the emotional significance of the opportunity.
Sarfaraz last featured in the IPL in 2023, when he represented the Delhi Capitals.
Busy Auction Night for CSK
CSK’s auction activity extended well beyond Sarfaraz’s signing. The franchise made headlines by spending ₹14.20 crore each on uncapped players Kartik Sharma and Prashant Veer, setting new records for uncapped signings.
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They further strengthened their squad by adding Matt Henry and Rahul Chahar.
Major Pre-Auction Moves
Ahead of the auction, CSK executed a major trade by acquiring Sanju Samson for ₹18 crore, while releasing long-time franchise players Ravindra Jadeja and Sam Curran, who joined the Rajasthan Royals. The franchise also released Matheesha Pathirana, freeing up ₹13 crore ahead of the auction.
