Patna: Sarthak Ranjan, the son of independent MP Pappu Yadav from Purnia, Bihar, will make his debut in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026, after being acquired by Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) for Rs. 30 lakh. The news was shared on social media by Pappu Yadav, who expressed his pride and congratulated his son.
Sharing a photo of Sarthak on X, Pappu Yadav wrote: “Congratulations, son… play with passion, make your mark, and achieve your dreams! From now on, our identity will be defined by Sarthak.”
बधाई बेटू
जमकर खेलोअपने प्रतिभा के दम पर
अपनी पहचान बनाओ
अपनी चाहत पूरी करो!अब सार्थक के नाम से
बनेगी हमारी पहचान! pic.twitter.com/s3gOGe72c2— Pappu Yadav (@pappuyadavjapl) December 16, 2025
Sarthak’s base price in the IPL auction was Rs. 30 lakh, and he joins KKR, co-owned by Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan. This marks his first appearance in the IPL.
Born on September 25, 1996, Sarthak has represented Delhi in domestic cricket. He made his T20 debut in the 2015-16 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, his List A debut in the 2016-17 Vijay Hazare Trophy, and his first-class debut in the 2018-19 Ranji Trophy.
Sarthak has also performed impressively in the Delhi Premier League, scoring around 448 runs in nine matches, including a standout performance for North Delhi Strikers in 2025. His consistent domestic performances have earned him the opportunity to showcase his talent on the IPL stage.
The young cricketer now has a chance to prove himself to a wider audience and impress fans with his batting prowess in India’s most-watched cricket league.
