I'm not aware of a battery that can stand a 1800C (2 sec) charge current, but doesn't matter regarding your specific question. As I previously mentioned, the preload resistor has to absorb 1200 Ws pulse energy.
Regarding availability of suitable NTC, my previous statement is most likely wrong. I have been thinking of self protecting PTC power resistors, but I see now, that you are trying to replace the contactor with an NTC. The problem is, that if an NTC has once reached it's high temperature, e.g. cause it hasn't yet recovered from a previous load pulse, there's no current limit any more. At this high power levels, immediate damage of the NTC would occur. For this reason, current limiting circuits for a higher power level, e.g. in motor drives, always use contactors and fixed resistors (or possibly self protecting PTC).