RCB's Jitesh Sharma Sees Silver Lining in Defeat Against SRH

In a recent match, Royal Challengers Bengaluru's stand-in captain Jitesh Sharma expressed that their 42-run defeat to Sunrisers Hyderabad could serve as a valuable learning experience. Despite the loss, he emphasized the importance of analyzing their performance ahead of the playoffs. Jitesh acknowledged that RCB gave away extra runs and noted the contributions from their players. He also mentioned Tim David's injury during the match but remained focused on the positives, stating that setbacks can lead to growth and improvement. This perspective could be crucial as RCB prepares for their upcoming challenges in the IPL.

By Narendra Chaudhary May 24, 2025, 11:15 IST

RCB's Stand-in Captain Reflects on Loss

Jitesh Sharma, the stand-in captain for Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), views their recent 42-run loss to Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) as a beneficial opportunity for reflection. This defeat comes just before their final group stage match and the playoffs in the 18th season of the Indian Premier League (IPL).

The Sunrisers, already eliminated from playoff contention, thwarted RCB's chance to overtake Gujarat Titans at the top of the standings. Earlier this week, Hyderabad had already knocked Lucknow Super Giants out of the playoff race, and they continued their strong performance against RCB.

Ishan Kishan's explosive innings of 94 not out off 48 balls, along with solid contributions from his teammates, propelled SRH to a formidable total of 231/6. In response, RCB's Virat Kohli and Phil Salt initially shifted the momentum, but the middle order failed to maintain it.

Jitesh Sharma Acknowledges Extra Runs Given to SRH

Jitesh, filling in for Rajat Patidar, admitted that RCB conceded an additional 20 to 30 runs, attributing it to their 'rustiness' and the relentless batting from SRH. He expressed, "I believe we gave away 20-30 runs too many. They played exceptionally well, and I had no answers for their aggressive batting. We started off rusty, but improved our accuracy in the death overs."

He also mentioned not having spoken to Tim David, who sustained a hamstring injury while trying to stop Kishan's boundary attempt. Despite his injury, David batted in the 17th over after Jitesh was dismissed.

Finding Positives in the Setback

Jitesh noted that David appeared to be in pain while running for a single and ultimately lost his wicket after hitting a catch to Heinrich Klaasen off Eshan Malinga. He admitted, "I haven't met with David yet because I was disappointed about my own dismissal."

Rather than focusing on the negatives of their first away defeat, Jitesh emphasized the importance of analyzing the game. He stated, "Sometimes a loss can be a good sign as it allows for reflection and analysis. The positive takeaway is that everyone contributed. This setback gives us a chance to reassess and move forward."