India was closing in on a T20 World Cup title. The tension in the commentator’s voice slowly gave way to certainty. It was the kind of moment players imagine themselves in, under lights, in the middle, at the heart of history. But Jitesh was not there. Not in the dressing room, not even in the stands.
“I was very happy,” he tells Sportstar. “Not as a player, but as an Indian.”
There is no visible regret in the way he frames it. Only perspective.
For a cricketer who has hovered on the fringes of the national side, moving in and out of squads, such moments can easily become markers of distance. For Jitesh, they have instead become reminders of what it takes and what still lies ahead.
“I know how much effort goes into something like that: the preparation, the fitness, the mindset, the fearless approach. Everyone was aligned. That’s why India won.”
That word, ‘aligned’, is central to how Jitesh sees the game today. It is not just about skill, but clarity of thought, unity of purpose and the courage to execute without hesitation.
Yet his own journey to this point has not been without disappointment.
The omission from the T20 World Cup squad stung. For any cricketer, missing out on a global tournament is a hard blow, especially when you have been close to the setup.
But in the quiet that followed, life offered a different kind of perspective.
“It was disappointing,” he admits. “But it allowed me to be with my father.”
His father, Mohan Sharma, passed away on February 1 after a brief illness. In that moment, cricket receded into the background.
“Being there with him in his final days matters more than anything else,” Jitesh says. “At times, you realise there are things bigger than the game.”
Another dimension of Jitesh’s personality emerges here, one not always visible on the field.
He speaks about spirituality not in grand terms, but as a quiet, guiding force.
“I believe in karma. You do your work honestly and leave the rest. Whatever is meant to happen will happen.”
It reflects in how he lives, grounded, uncomplicated, anchored in routine.
“I try to keep life simple. That helps me stay clear in my mind.”
A game redefined by belief
Clarity also defines how Jitesh approaches T20 cricket, a format that continues to evolve rapidly.
“The game is changing every day,” he says. “Earlier, 200 was a big score. Then it became 250. Now even 230 is chaseable.”
The numbers do not tell the full story.
“You see teams losing by five or seven runs while chasing those scores. That tells you everything. The belief is different now.”
For Jitesh, this transformation is driven more by mindset than mechanics.
“It’s not just about skill anymore. From the moment you step out, you are thinking about how to attack. Even your body language matters.”
That shift has also redefined failure.
“Earlier, if you got out playing an attacking shot, people would question you. Now they say, ‘Well tried.’ That freedom makes a big difference.”
In a format where hesitation can be fatal, that freedom has unlocked a more instinctive, aggressive style of batting.
Keeping it simple
In an era dominated by data and match-ups, Jitesh prefers to reduce the game to its simplest unit. “Match-ups are about the day. If it’s your day, you can score 100 off 35 balls.”
His own framework is straightforward. “For me, it’s simple: how many runs can I score off this ball?”
It is an approach built on constant intent and awareness. “If I can hit a six, I go for it. If not, then four. Then three, two, one. A dot ball should only come if the bowler bowls something very good.”
There is a rhythm to that thinking, a refusal to let the game stagnate and a commitment to finding scoring options. That clarity is something he shares with young players back home. Growing up in Amravati in northern Maharashtra, far from traditional cricket centres, he understands the challenges.
“Whenever kids from Amravati ask me for advice, I tell them one thing: if I could make it from a small town with limited infrastructure, so can they.”
When pressure sharpens clarity
If T20 cricket is often described as a pressure-driven format, Jitesh sees it differently. “The more difficult the situation, the simpler the answer becomes.”
He explains it plainly. “When it’s 10 balls and 10 runs, you need high skill because one mistake can cost you. But when it’s 36 balls and 70 runs, it’s simple. You know you have to attack.”
In such moments, there is no room for doubt. And beneath all of it lies a constant. “Watch the ball. That’s the key. No matter the situation, everything else follows.”
A defining knock
Franchise cricket has shaped Jitesh’s outlook, especially in understanding role clarity. While he found his footing at Punjab Kings, it is Royal Challengers Bengaluru where he has grown.
“When a franchise picks you, they know why they’ve picked you. At RCB, the role was clear: go out and hit in pressure situations.”
That clarity was evident in one of his standout performances, an unbeaten 85 that powered Royal Challengers Bengaluru to its highest-ever run chase, a six-wicket win over Lucknow Super Giants.
It was an innings built on intent and trust, both in his ability and in the role defined for him.
“That clarity helps. You don’t have doubts in your mind.”
The knock underlined his value as a finisher and became a key moment in RCB’s campaign, one that eventually led to the franchise’s maiden IPL title. But clarity, he insists, must be matched by backing.
“The bigger question is: do the team management back you for three matches or 13 matches? If you get a longer run, your confidence grows and you can express yourself.”
Learning from the best
Sharing a dressing room with players like Virat Kohli has been an education. “When you play with someone like Virat, half the work is already done.”
It is not just about technical inputs, but understanding the standards required at the highest level. At the same time, Jitesh is clear that proximity to greatness is not enough. “If I want to sit at the same table as legends, I have to earn that respect. No one will give it to me. I have to win games for the team.”
In today’s game, he believes, there is nowhere to hide. “You can’t run from situations anymore. The game is very transparent.”
That transparency extends beyond numbers. “Even if you play selfish cricket, it shows.”
The road ahead
As another IPL season approaches, Jitesh does not make grand promises. “There are no shortcuts. You can’t escape pressure. You have to find your way through it.”
His philosophy remains rooted in simplicity, shaped by experience and grounded in perspective. There is cricket, with all its demands. And then there is life, which occasionally reminds you what truly matters.
For Jitesh, that balance is clearer than ever. Stay grounded. Trust the process. Respect the game and keep moving forward.
Published on Mar 27, 2026
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