Jitesh Sharma Calls for Improvement After NECO Master Blaster's Loss in Vidarbha Pro T20 League
NECO Master Blaster's Struggles in Opening Match
Nagpur (Maharashtra) [India], June 7: Jitesh Sharma, the wicketkeeper-batter for Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) and captain of NECO Master Blaster, expressed the need for his batting lineup to enhance their performance following their defeat in the opening match of the Vidarbha Pro T20 League.
In a closely contested match, Bharat Rangers secured a 23-run victory over NECO Master Blaster. Despite leading the team, Jitesh Sharma was unable to make a significant impact, yet he remains optimistic about future matches.
“This is a learning experience for us in the Vidarbha League. Being our inaugural year, we are bound to encounter challenges, but it’s crucial that we learn from them and improve. The IPL operates on a different level and should not be directly compared, but we can certainly elevate our standards and skills here,” Jitesh stated after the match, as reported by NECO Master Blaster.
“While we did make some errors today, particularly with our batting, we aim to concentrate on the positives. Our bowling was commendable, but the batting order must shoulder more responsibility. As both a player and captain, I want to see the younger players enjoying the game and developing through this experience,” he added.
NECO Master Blaster is set to face Nagpur Titans on Saturday, followed by a match against Nagpur Heroz on Sunday. “Our strategy for the upcoming match is straightforward—focus on improving our cricket and strive for a victory,” Jitesh Sharma remarked.
In their chase of a modest target of 132 runs, NECO Master Blaster fell short, finishing at 108 all out. Key bowling performances from N Bhute (3/32) and M Dosi (2/23) dismantled their middle order. The innings struggled to gain traction after losing early wickets, with only Gaurav Dhoble (16) and Akash Kombe (10) providing some resistance. Captain Jitesh managed to score just nine runs.
Men's squad:
Jitesh Sharma (Captain, Wicketkeeper), R Sanjay (Vice Captain), Aryam Meshram, Adyan Daga, Adyan Routham, Akash Kombe, Vedant Dighade (Wicketkeeper), Gaurav Dhobley, Ankush Tammiwar, Aditya Khilote, Arya Durugkar, Pratham Maheshwari, Prafulla Hinge, Ananmay Jaiswal, Sarthak Dhabadgaokar, Sanmesh Deshmukh.