India was closing in on a T20 World Cup title. The tension in the commentator\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was very happy,\u201d he tells Sportstar<\/i>. \u201cNot as a player, but as an Indian.\u201d<\/p>\n
There is no visible regret in the way he frames it. Only perspective.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
\u201cI know how much effort goes into something like that: the preparation, the fitness, the mindset, the fearless approach. Everyone was aligned. That\u2019s why India won.\u201d<\/p>\n
That word, \u2018aligned\u2019, 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.<\/p>\n
Yet his own journey to this point has not been without disappointment.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
But in the quiet that followed, life offered a different kind of perspective.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was disappointing,\u201d he admits. \u201cBut it allowed me to be with my father.\u201d<\/p>\n
His father, Mohan Sharma, passed away on February 1 after a brief illness. In that moment, cricket receded into the background.<\/p>\n
\u201cBeing there with him in his final days matters more than anything else,\u201d Jitesh says. \u201cAt times, you realise there are things bigger than the game.\u201d<\/p>\n
Another dimension of Jitesh\u2019s personality emerges here, one not always visible on the field.<\/p>\n
He speaks about spirituality not in grand terms, but as a quiet, guiding force.<\/p>\n
\u201cI believe in karma. You do your work honestly and leave the rest. Whatever is meant to happen will happen.\u201d<\/p>\n
It reflects in how he lives, grounded, uncomplicated, anchored in routine.<\/p>\n
\u201cI try to keep life simple. That helps me stay clear in my mind.\u201d<\/p>\n
A game redefined by belief<\/b><\/p>\n
Clarity also defines how Jitesh\u00a0approaches T20 cricket, a format that continues to evolve rapidly.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe game is changing every day,\u201d he says. \u201cEarlier, 200 was a big score.\u00a0Then it became 250. Now even 230 is chaseable.\u201d<\/p>\n
The numbers do not tell the full story.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou see teams losing by five or seven runs while chasing those scores. That tells you everything. The belief is different now.\u201d<\/p>\n
For Jitesh, this transformation is driven more by mindset than mechanics.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s not just about skill anymore. From the moment you step out, you are thinking about how to attack. Even your body language matters.\u201d<\/p>\n
That shift has also redefined failure.<\/p>\n
\u201cEarlier, if you got out playing an attacking shot, people would question you. Now they say, \u2018Well tried.\u2019 That freedom makes a big difference.\u201d<\/p>\n
In a format where hesitation can be fatal, that freedom has unlocked a more instinctive, aggressive style of batting.<\/p>\n
Keeping it simple<\/b><\/p>\n
In an era dominated by data and match-ups, Jitesh prefers to reduce the game to its simplest unit. \u201cMatch-ups are about the day. If it\u2019s your day, you can score 100 off 35 balls.\u201d<\/p>\n
His own framework is straightforward. \u201cFor me, it\u2019s simple: how many runs can I score off this ball?\u201d<\/p>\n
It is an approach built on constant intent and awareness. \u201cIf 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.\u201d<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhenever 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.\u201d<\/p>\n
When pressure sharpens clarity<\/b><\/p>\n
If T20 cricket is often described as a pressure-driven format, Jitesh sees it differently. \u201cThe more difficult the situation, the simpler the answer becomes.\u201d<\/p>\n
He explains it plainly. \u201cWhen it\u2019s 10 balls and 10 runs, you need high skill because one mistake can cost you. But when it\u2019s 36 balls and 70 runs, it\u2019s simple. You know you have to attack.\u201d<\/p>\n
In such moments, there is no room for doubt. And beneath all of it lies a constant. \u201cWatch the ball. That\u2019s the key. No matter the situation, everything else follows.\u201d<\/p>\n
A defining knock<\/b><\/p>\n
Franchise cricket has shaped Jitesh\u2019s outlook, especially in understanding role clarity. While he found his footing at Punjab Kings, it is Royal Challengers Bengaluru where he has grown.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen a franchise picks you, they know why they\u2019ve picked you. At RCB, the role was clear: go out and hit in pressure situations.\u201d<\/p>\n
That clarity was evident in one of his standout performances, an\u00a0unbeaten 85\u00a0that powered Royal Challengers Bengaluru to its highest-ever run chase, a six-wicket win over Lucknow Super Giants.<\/p>\n
It was an innings built on intent and trust, both in his ability and in the role defined for him.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat clarity helps. You don\u2019t have doubts in your mind.\u201d<\/p>\n
The knock underlined his value as a finisher and became a key moment in RCB\u2019s campaign, one that eventually led to the franchise\u2019s maiden IPL title. But clarity, he insists, must be matched by backing.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe 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.\u201d<\/p>\n
Learning from the best<\/b><\/p>\n
Sharing a dressing room with players like Virat Kohli has been an education. \u201cWhen you play with someone like Virat, half the work is already done.\u201d<\/p>\n
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. \u201cIf 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.\u201d<\/p>\n
In today\u2019s game, he believes, there is nowhere to hide. \u201cYou can\u2019t run from situations anymore. The game is very transparent.\u201d<\/p>\n
That transparency extends beyond numbers. \u201cEven if you play selfish cricket, it shows.\u201d<\/p>\n
The road ahead<\/b><\/p>\n
As another IPL season approaches, Jitesh does not make grand promises. \u201cThere are no shortcuts. You can\u2019t escape pressure. You have to find your way through it.\u201d<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
For Jitesh, that balance is clearer than ever. Stay grounded. Trust the process. Respect the game and keep moving forward.<\/p>\n
Published on Mar 27, 2026<\/p>\n