Kris Srikkanth Urges CSK to Release Kartik Sharma Ahead of IPL 2027 Auction

Former India captain Kris Srikkanth has made a bold suggestion to Chennai Super Kings (CSK) ahead of the IPL 2027 auction, advising the franchise to release young wicketkeeper-batter Kartik Sharma and attempt to buy him back at a significantly lower price. According to Srikkanth, CSK could potentially secure the 20-year-old for ₹5.5 crore instead of retaining him at the ₹14.2 crore price tag they paid at the IPL 2026 auction.

Speaking on his YouTube channel, Srikkanth argued that Kartik’s current market value may not match the amount CSK invested in him. He believes other franchises are unlikely to compete aggressively for the youngster, giving Chennai an opportunity to bring him back at a reduced price.

Kartik had a reasonably steady debut season in the IPL, scoring 295 runs in 11 matches at an average of 32.77 and a strike rate of 136.57. He registered two half-centuries, with his highest score being 71 against Lucknow Super Giants.

While those numbers represent a promising start for a 20-year-old, Srikkanth believes CSK should carefully consider the financial value of the investment before finalising their retention decisions.

Kris Srikkanth Wants CSK to Buy Back Kartik Sharma for ₹5.5 Crore

Srikkanth’s recommendation is straightforward: release Kartik Sharma before the IPL 2027 auction and attempt to purchase him again for a lower amount. He also identified several other players whom he believes CSK could release as part of their squad restructuring.

Sharing his assessment on Cheeky Cheeka, the former India captain said:

“Matthew Short, Zak Foulkes, Prashant Veer, and Matt Henry are surely out. If I was CSK, I would release Kartik Sharma also and try to get him back at a lesser price. You can buy him back for 5.5 crores as no one else will take him, given their stocks,” said Srikkanth on Cheeky Cheeka.

The suggestion reflects Srikkanth’s belief that Chennai could use its auction strategy to reduce the financial commitment attached to Kartik while potentially keeping him in the squad.

However, releasing a young player after one IPL season would still involve a degree of risk. Kartik has shown some promise through his scoring record, and his age gives him room to develop further. Whether CSK follow Srikkanth’s recommendation will depend on their assessment of the squad, available funds and auction strategy.

Srikkanth Opposes CSK Trading Dewald Brevis for Axar Patel

Alongside the discussion about Kartik Sharma, Srikkanth also addressed trade rumours involving Chennai Super Kings and Delhi Capitals. Reports have linked CSK with a possible move for India all-rounder Axar Patel and batter Ashutosh Sharma, with Dewald Brevis and Noor Ahmad reportedly named as potential players moving in the opposite direction.

Neither franchise has officially confirmed such a deal. Nevertheless, Srikkanth made his position clear, particularly regarding the possibility of CSK letting go of Brevis.

He believes the South African batter is too important to Chennai’s middle order and should not be sacrificed to secure Axar Patel, despite recognising the value the Indian all-rounder could bring to the team.

“I won’t let go of Brevis. He’s a one-man match-winner. Axar Patel coming to CSK is a good idea, but not at the cost of Brevis. Brevis is a big reason why CSK’s batting lineup looks strong. So why should they let go of him? I won’t sacrifice Brevis for sure,” said Srikkanth.

Brevis joined CSK as a mid-season replacement in 2025 and has developed into an important middle-order power hitter. His ability to change the momentum of a match with aggressive batting is one of the reasons Srikkanth values him so highly.

For the former India captain, retaining Brevis is a priority even if it means missing out on an experienced all-rounder such as Axar. His comments underline the importance of maintaining Chennai’s batting strength while considering possible changes to the squad.

Srikkanth Believes CSK Have a Bigger Plan Behind Their SRH Trade

Chennai Super Kings have already made a significant change to their squad through a four-player trade with Sunrisers Hyderabad, announced on November 5, 2026. The deal saw Liam Livingstone and Jack Edwards move to Chennai, while Khaleel Ahmed and Nathan Ellis joined SRH.

Livingstone was acquired by CSK at ₹6 crore, compared with the ₹13 crore SRH had paid for him. Jack Edwards joined Chennai for ₹3 crore. In exchange, Khaleel Ahmed, whose price was ₹4.8 crore, and Nathan Ellis, valued at ₹2 crore, moved to Hyderabad.

Srikkanth had previously described the trade as a victory for Sunrisers Hyderabad, arguing that the deal strengthened their pace-bowling department. However, he now believes Chennai could have a larger strategy in mind beyond the four-player exchange.

He suggested that CSK may be preparing for a significant overhaul of their fast-bowling resources ahead of the next season.

“There is definitely some other bigger plan CSK have. They’ll try to have a fresh set of fast bowlers. Because just this trade is more confusing than convincing. Just this trade was won by SRH. Their pace attack has become deadly. But for CSK, they obviously have something up their sleeve.”

His comments indicate that he does not view the SRH trade as the full extent of Chennai’s squad plans. Instead, he expects the franchise to make further moves to rebuild its bowling attack before IPL 2027.

Zaheer Khan Faces a Major Squad-Building Challenge at CSK

Chennai Super Kings have considerable work to do after another disappointing IPL campaign. The franchise missed the playoffs for the third consecutive year, increasing the pressure to make effective changes ahead of the 2027 season.

Former India left-arm fast bowler Zaheer Khan heads the coaching set-up, and the upcoming auction will provide an important opportunity to address the team’s weaknesses. Strengthening the pace attack, maintaining batting depth and making sensible decisions about player values are likely to be important considerations.

The discussions surrounding Kartik Sharma, Dewald Brevis and the possible Axar Patel trade highlight the different priorities CSK may need to balance. While Srikkanth wants the franchise to reduce its investment in Kartik, he strongly opposes sacrificing Brevis for another player.

CSK have not publicly revealed their IPL 2027 auction strategy or confirmed the reported Delhi Capitals trade discussions. For now, Srikkanth’s comments remain his assessment of how Chennai should approach the upcoming auction.

What Could Kris Srikkanth’s Advice Mean for CSK Ahead of IPL 2027?

Srikkanth’s recommendations point towards a squad strategy built around financial flexibility and retaining match-winning players. His suggestion to release Kartik Sharma and attempt to buy him back for ₹5.5 crore is based on the belief that Chennai may be able to secure the youngster at a lower price.

At the same time, his strong support for Dewald Brevis shows that he does not want CSK to weaken their middle-order batting simply to bring in another established player. He also expects the franchise to make further changes to its fast-bowling department following the trade with SRH.

Ultimately, the decisions will be up to Chennai Super Kings’ management. Whether they follow Srikkanth’s advice on Kartik, retain Brevis or pursue additional trade opportunities will become clearer as the IPL 2027 auction preparations develop.