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Jitesh Sharma credited his work with Dinesh Karthik for successful T20I comeback for India in Australia. (Creimas for BCCI)
Playing in his first match in four months since the victorious IPL 2025 season with the Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Jitesh Sharma made an instant impact with a quick cameo for India in their first win over Australia in the five-match T20I series.
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Walking in to bat in a 186-run chase in Hobart last week, Jitesh who replaced Sanju Samson as the wicket-keeper, struck an unbeaten 22 off 13 balls to power India home by five wickets, helping the team level the five-match series 1-1.
The 32-year-old Jitesh was also part of the Asia Cup 2025 squad in September but did not receive game time as Samson was preferred as the first-choice wicket-keeper. Returning with a telling impact on the game, Jitesh credited his work with former India and RCB wicket-keeper Dinesh Karthik for his improved confidence and shot-making range.
“When I got to know I was playing the next match, I was very excited because I was playing a game after many days. I was trying to stay as calm and composed as possible and do things in my control. Special thanks to Dinesh Karthik because he has worked a lot with me,” Jitesh said via Star Sports.
“That’s why I was comfortable playing those shots. I just tried to show that I have come to dominate. I am a new batter and it is my first match of the series, does not mean I will take time. I showed good intent and it made the run chase easy.”
India A captain
Jitesh was also unveiled as the India A captain by the BCCI’s senior selection committee on Tuesday, for their upcoming Rising Stars Asia Cup tour to Qatar this month. Jitesh had a prolific run during RCB’s victorious campaign earlier this year, scoring valuable lower-order runs at a strike rate in excess of 176 as Bengaluru franchise broke their title drought after 17 years.
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