Jitesh Sharma Faces Backlash After Another IPL 2026 Performance

RCB's Struggles Against Gujarat Titans

In the IPL 2026 match held on April 30 at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) wicketkeeper-batter Jitesh Sharma faced intense criticism following yet another disappointing batting performance against the Gujarat Titans (GT).

RCB, batting first after being put in by GT captain Shubman Gill, was dismissed for a mere 155 runs in 19.2 overs. Devdutt Padikkal was the standout performer with the bat, scoring 40 runs off 24 balls. Other contributors included Virat Kohli (28), Rajat Patidar (19), Shepherd (17), Venkatesh Iyer (12), and Bhuvneshwar Kumar (15), but collectively they could not set a competitive target.

Bowling Dominance by Gujarat Titans

For the Gujarat Titans, Arshad Khan was the star bowler, achieving figures of 3 wickets for 22 runs in 6.2 overs, maintaining an economy rate of 6.60. Jason Holder and Rashid Khan also made significant contributions, each taking two wickets, as the GT bowlers executed a disciplined performance.

Jitesh Sharma's Ongoing Batting Issues

While Jason Holder's controversial catch of Rajat Patidar drew attention, Jitesh Sharma's ongoing batting struggles were once again highlighted. The wicketkeeper-batter has been unable to make a significant impact throughout IPL 2026, having played in all nine matches but failing to deliver when it mattered most.

In his first four matches, Jitesh scored 0, 5, 10, and 23 against various teams. His subsequent outings yielded scores of 14, 10, and 1, resulting in a total of just 63 runs across seven innings, averaging a mere 9.

Social Media Backlash

Jitesh's repeated failures have sparked a wave of criticism on social media platforms, particularly X (formerly Twitter). Fans have expressed their frustration, attributing RCB's middle-order struggles to his poor form. Many have called for his removal from the playing XI, citing his performance as a liability this season.

Comments on social media have pointed out the disparity between Jitesh's confident remarks on podcasts and his actual performance on the field. His previous statements about hoping for top-order collapses to get a chance to bat have only intensified the backlash against him.

Match Outcome

Ultimately, RCB lost to Gujarat Titans by four wickets, with GT successfully chasing down the target of 156 runs in just 15.5 overs. Shubman Gill led the charge with a quickfire 43 off 18 balls, while Jos Buttler contributed 39 runs off 19 balls. Rahul Tewatia's unbeaten 27 off 17 balls sealed the victory for GT, with Bhuvneshwar Kumar being the standout bowler for RCB, taking 3 wickets for 28 runs.