Jitesh Sharma has attributed his T20 resurgence to Royal Challengers Bengaluru mentor Dinesh Karthik, who has been working closely with him to evolve into a complete 360-degree batter.
“It’s been a fantastic journey so far, especially because of the hard work I put in with him during the off-season,” Jitesh said. “Most of the shots I’m playing now are replicas of what DK used to play. He’s helping build a new version of me, someone who can play all around the wicket. I’m thoroughly enjoying this new role.”
One of the biggest breakthroughs for Jitesh has been the confidence to play shots he never thought were in his arsenal — a transformation he credits to the faith the team has placed in him. His 19-ball 40* in the death overs against RCB’s latest opponent proved decisive in a 12-run win.
“When I play those shots, I genuinely surprise myself because I’d never tried them before,” he said. “But I’ve been able to execute because of the unwavering backing from the team. This journey excites me every day.”
Off-Season Work Behind the Breakthrough
The turning point came during two high-performance camps led by Karthik and RCB head coach Andy Flower earlier this year. Held in January and February, these sessions helped Indian players fine-tune their games. For Jitesh, it was a chance to add finesse to his naturally aggressive batting style.
“My confidence doesn’t come from runs scored in a match,” he explained. “It stems from the preparation and effort I put in during practice. Focusing on results can be unpredictable, so I prefer to keep my confidence rooted in process.”
Bouncing Back from a Disappointing Season
Last season had been a rough one for Jitesh, where he scored only 187 runs in 14 innings at a strike rate of 131. The underwhelming form stalled his aspirations for an India call-up.
“I think last year was more of a mental block,” he admitted. “I wasn’t mentally present in the game — I was too caught up thinking ahead. When I met DK bhai, he told me it’s normal. It’s not rocket science, just a human error. It happens to everyone.”
Karthik encouraged him to focus on his natural game — one driven by impact, not personal milestones.
“He saw the way I bat — the intent to dominate and push for wins. I’m not obsessed with scoring runs; I’m obsessed with winning matches. He noticed there were some key shots missing in my game, and we’ve been working to add those. The process is still ongoing.”
A Game-Changer for RCB
Jitesh’s resurgence has brought firepower to RCB’s lower-middle order. He’s now one of just seven batters — including teammates Rajat Patidar and Tim David — to average over 40 with a strike rate above 150 this season.
Speaking about this upturn, Jitesh credited clear planning and smart cricket over reckless aggression.
“We’re playing with purpose,” he said. “It’s not just swinging blindly. Every batter knows their role and which bowlers to target. For instance, I’ll attack certain bowlers, and someone like Phil Salt will take on others. It’s all well-planned. That’s what makes us effective.”
With his form peaking and a redefined role at RCB, Jitesh Sharma is fast becoming one of the IPL’s most reliable finishers — and he’s just getting started.
