In a surprising revelation, Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) wicketkeeper-batsman Jitesh Sharma shared how he received more recognition after joining the IPL franchise than when he played for the Indian national team. In an interview shared by RCB, Jitesh opened up about his cricket journey and how his life changed once he became part of the popular IPL franchise.
Recognition from RCB vs. Team India
Despite playing for Team India, Jitesh said he did not experience the level of recognition one might expect. "When I went to play Syed Mushtaq Ali, people were shouting 'Jitesh, Jitesh, RCB, RCB.' That was the moment I realized I hadn't joined just any team," Jitesh revealed. He continued, "Playing for RCB is not a small thing. There’s a different feeling in this team because 100-150 people were waiting for autographs. Before this, when I had played for India, not even two people came up to me for an autograph."
For Jitesh, joining RCB opened doors to a different level of fan recognition, with many more people acknowledging him for his talent and achievements.
From Army Aspirations to Cricket
Jitesh, a resident of Amravati, also shared how he stumbled upon cricket. Initially, sports were just for fun in his area, and he never aspired to become a cricketer. His dream was to join the army through the National Defence Academy (NDA). However, when he discovered that there was a 25% discount on playing sports at the state level, a friend encouraged him to give cricket a try. With only three names listed in the wicketkeeper column during the trial, Jitesh decided to put his name down—and that simple decision changed his life forever.
Jitesh's IPL Performance
While Jitesh's international career has been modest, having played 9 T20 matches for India and scoring only 100 runs at an average of 14.28, his IPL journey has been more promising. In IPL 2025, he has scored 88 runs in 4 innings for RCB, averaging 29 with a strike rate of 157. Over his entire IPL career, Jitesh has accumulated 818 runs in 46 matches at an average of 23 and a strike rate of 151.
Jitesh’s story is a reminder that sometimes recognition comes from unexpected places, and his time with RCB has truly elevated his profile in the cricketing world.
