Former India batter Subramaniam Badrinath criticised CSK's IPL 2026 auction strategy, saying, "I don't know who gave CSK the suggestion to pick [Prashant Veer and Kartik Sharma]." He added, "I don't trust these two playing proper shots and scoring runs," noting that CSK made a "massive blunder" by signing them for ₹14.2 crore each at the auction.