Jitesh Sharma

Jitesh Sharma

Role:

Batting Style: Right Handed Bat

Bowling Style:

Country: India

Team: Royal Challengers Bengaluru

Player profile for Jitesh Sharma

Jitesh Sharma is an Indian cricketer known for his explosive batting and exceptional skills as a wicketkeeper. Born on October 22, 1993, in Gondia, Maharashtra, Jitesh has emerged as a prominent figure in Indian domestic cricket, particularly in the shorter formats. His aggressive batting style and ability to play innovative shots make him a valuable player in T20 and limited-overs cricket.

Personal Information:

  • Full Name: Jitesh Sharma
  • Date of Birth: October 22, 1993
  • Place of Birth: Gondia, Maharashtra, India
  • Height: 5 feet 7 inches (170 cm)
  • Batting Style: Right-handed
  • Bowling Style: Right-arm off-break (occasional)
  • Role: Wicketkeeper-batsman

Early Life and Domestic Career:

Jitesh Sharma started his cricket journey at the local level, playing for his city, Gondia, before progressing through the age-group teams in Maharashtra. He made his debut for Vidarbha in domestic cricket, where he quickly gained attention for his explosive batting and sharp wicketkeeping skills.

He began to make a mark in T20 cricket with his ability to hit big shots and accelerate in the middle overs. His wicketkeeping skills, combined with his hard-hitting abilities, helped him stand out as a complete package in domestic cricket.

Domestic Debut:

  • First-Class Debut: Jitesh made his first-class debut for Vidarbha in 2015 in the Ranji Trophy.
  • List A Debut: He debuted in the Vijay Hazare Trophy in 2016.
  • T20 Debut: Jitesh made his T20 debut in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, showcasing his prowess in the shortest format.

In the domestic circuit, Jitesh has been an important part of the Vidarbha team, which won back-to-back Ranji Trophy titles in 2018-19 and 2019-20. His contributions with the bat in the lower middle order and as a reliable wicketkeeper were crucial to Vidarbha’s success during this period.

Indian Premier League (IPL) Career:

Jitesh Sharma gained wider recognition when he was bought by the Punjab Kings (PBKS) in the 2022 IPL auction. His ability to keep wickets and bat aggressively at the lower order caught the attention of the franchise, and he became a key player in the squad.

  • 2022 IPL Season: Jitesh impressed in his debut IPL season, showing his striking ability and finishing matches in style. He played as a lower-order batsman and showcased his power-hitting capabilities, scoring quick runs for Punjab Kings when the team needed them most.
  • 2023 IPL Season: Jitesh Sharma continued his solid form in the 2023 IPL, emerging as one of the key finishers for PBKS. His ability to clear the boundary and maintain a high strike rate in crucial moments made him an invaluable asset in the team.

Playing Style and Strengths:

  • Batting: Jitesh Sharma is known for his aggressive batting, especially in the T20 format. He is a big hitter of the ball and has a knack for scoring quick runs, making him a dangerous finisher. His ability to play innovative shots and take on the opposition’s bowlers in the death overs adds significant value to his team.
  • Wicketkeeping: Apart from his batting, Jitesh is a highly competent wicketkeeper. His sharp reflexes, good footwork behind the stumps, and ability to make crucial dismissals in both red-ball and white-ball formats make him a reliable option for any team.
  • Off-spin: While primarily a batsman and wicketkeeper, Jitesh Sharma also bowls right-arm off-spin on occasion, offering a bit of variety with his off-break deliveries.

Key Achievements:

  1. Back-to-Back Ranji Titles with Vidarbha: Jitesh Sharma played an important role in Vidarbha’s victories in the 2018-19 and 2019-20 Ranji Trophy seasons.
  2. Impressive IPL Debut (2022): In his debut season with the Punjab Kings, Jitesh made a strong impression with his explosive batting in the lower middle order, providing solid finishing contributions.
  3. Key Finisher in IPL: In the 2022 and 2023 IPL seasons, Jitesh Sharma’s ability to hit big sixes and finish matches made him an asset for Punjab Kings. His power-hitting in the latter stages of an innings is one of his standout skills.

Recent Career and Future Prospects:

Jitesh Sharma’s aggressive batting and consistent performances in domestic cricket have made him one of the most exciting young wicketkeeper-batsmen in Indian cricket. His versatility as a finisher and his wicketkeeping skills make him a valuable player, particularly in limited-overs formats like T20s and ODIs.

Given his performances in the IPL and domestic cricket, Jitesh is viewed as a potential future star in Indian cricket, particularly for limited-overs formats. He is seen as a candidate for selection in the Indian national team as a backup wicketkeeper or as a middle-order batsman who can accelerate in the latter stages of an innings.

Personal Life:

  • Family: Jitesh Sharma hails from a cricketing family, with his father being an influential figure in his cricketing journey.
  • Interests: Outside of cricket, Jitesh enjoys watching other sports and spends time with his family. His focus, however, remains primarily on cricket, and he continues to work on improving his skills, particularly his batting and wicketkeeping techniques.

Conclusion:

Jitesh Sharma is an exciting talent in Indian cricket, known for his aggressive batting and reliable wicketkeeping. With his ability to finish matches and his competence behind the stumps, he is regarded as one of the best young wicketkeeper-batsmen in India. His performances in the IPL and domestic cricket have positioned him as a future prospect for the national team, and he is expected to play an important role in the coming years in limited-overs formats.