Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) wicketkeeper-batter Jitesh Sharma is relishing the finisher role at the franchise but has just one complaint. Jitesh said that it is a difficult job and he does not get a chance to score a half-century. Now, he has made peace with it and considers the 30s and 40s he contributes with as his fifty.
“Now everyone seems to be a finisher. But it's a difficult job to bat at No 6, No 7 because ever since I started finishing, I haven’t scored a fifty. I was an opener. Earlier I used to score fifties and centuries,” Jitesh said in the latest episode of RCB Bold Diaries.
“I used to enjoy raising my bat when I reached a milestone. But ever since I became a finisher, I never got a chance to make a fifty. (It has mostly been)10 balls, 30 runs. 20 balls, 40 runs.
“These scores have become 50 for us. If you do 60–70 in 30 balls, it’s like a 100. And I am happy, very happy doing, if the team wins."
Jitesh's run in IPL 2025
So far, Jitesh has got to bat in four innings and scored 88 runs at a strike rate of 154.38. His best for RCB came against Mumbai Indians (MI) at Wankhede Stadium where he scored 40 runs from just 19 balls. He hit two fours and four sixes to help RCB post 221/5 and remained unbeaten.
Big sum for Jitesh, big knocks in T20s
Jitesh was RCB's most expensive Indian player at the IPL mega auction. He was roped in for Rs 11 crore after Punjab Kings (PBKS) tried to retain him via Right to Match (RTM) card. He nis yet to score his maiden IPL century. For PBKS, his highest score was 49 not out. In T20s overall, the Vidarbha batter has one century and 10 half-centuries from 120 innings.
Jitesh on wicketkeeping
Jitesh has been impressive as wicketkeeper for RCB. He has helped captain Rajat Patidar make a few exceptional DRS calls including the wicket of MI's Ryan Rickelton where he pointed out the exact spot where Josh Hazlewood landed the ball on the pitch. The 31-year-old said he has been able to control the game from behind the wickets but it is tiring and fun for him at the same time.
“Your mind definitely gets tired. The advantage is that you can control the game from there. You get an idea about what your team’s bowlers can do on a wicket. You can read other big batters; that’s also an advantage.
“When a new batsman takes four to six balls, he understands the wicket. I understand that in two balls, because I’ve kept the wicket before. I stay involved for 240 balls. That’s the fun of cricket for me,” he said.
Karthik lauds Jitesh
RCB's mentor and batting coach Dinesh Karthik is impressed with Jitesh's hunger to learn. The former Indian wicketkeeper-batter feels he can help Jitesh do very well if they work together for a few more years.
“He is always hungry to learn. He’s like, ‘What can I do?’ He calls me Anna. Those conversations have been very positive. He is at that stage where he’s willing to try anything I say.
“So it’s very fun like that. If I work with him for a year or two, I feel that I can touch the limits (with Jitesh),” he added.
RCB are currently in the third spot with four wins from six games. RCB will go up against Punjab Kings (PBKS) in their next game at home on April 18.