Playing in his first match in four months since the victorious IPL 2025 season with the Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Jitesh Sharma made an instant impact with a quick cameo for India in their first win over Australia in the five-match T20I series.
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Walking in to bat in a 186-run chase in Hobart last week, Jitesh who replaced Sanju Samson as the wicket-keeper, struck an unbeaten 22 off 13 balls to power India home by five wickets, helping the team level the five-match series 1-1.
The 32-year-old Jitesh was also part of the Asia Cup 2025 squad in September but did not receive game time as Samson was preferred as the first-choice wicket-keeper. Returning with a telling impact on the game, Jitesh credited his work with former India and RCB wicket-keeper Dinesh Karthik for his improved confidence and shot-making range.
“When I got to know I was playing the next match, I was very excited because I was playing a game after many days. I was trying to stay as calm and composed as possible and do things in my control. Special thanks to Dinesh Karthik because he has worked a lot with me,” Jitesh said via Star Sports.
“That’s why I was comfortable playing those shots. I just tried to show that I have come to dominate. I am a new batter and it is my first match of the series, does not mean I will take time. I showed good intent and it made the run chase easy.”
India A captain
Jitesh was also unveiled as the India A captain by the BCCI’s senior selection committee on Tuesday, for their upcoming Rising Stars Asia Cup tour to Qatar this month. Jitesh had a prolific run during RCB’s victorious campaign earlier this year, scoring valuable lower-order runs at a strike rate in excess of 176 as Bengaluru franchise broke their title drought after 17 years.
