Jitesh Sharma Credits Dinesh Karthik for T20 Success with RCB
Jitesh Sharma's Transformation Under Dinesh Karthik
Bengaluru (Karnataka) [India], April 9: Jitesh Sharma has attributed his recent resurgence in T20 cricket to the guidance of Dinesh Karthik, a mentor with Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB). Karthik believes that Sharma has the potential to develop into a versatile 360-degree player.
“It’s been an incredible journey so far, especially since I dedicated a lot of time working with him during the off-season,” Jitesh mentioned during a pre-match press conference, as reported by a Media House.
“The shots I’m executing now are reminiscent of what he used to play. He’s helping me evolve into a new player because he sees my capability to play in all directions. I’m truly enjoying this new role,” he added.
One of the aspects that thrills Jitesh is the ability to pull off shots he once thought were unattainable, a feat he credits to the unwavering support from his team. On Monday, he demonstrated his growth by scoring an impressive unbeaten 40 runs off just 19 balls, significantly contributing to RCB's 12-run victory.
“I feel a great sense of satisfaction when I execute those shots because I had never attempted them before,” he stated, as quoted by a Media House.
“I’m able to perform thanks to the immense support I receive. This journey has been wonderful, and I’m still excited about it,” he continued.
Jitesh's development can be traced back to the off-season, where he participated in two high-performance camps led by Karthik and head coach Andy Flower in January and February.
“My confidence isn’t tied to the runs I score; it’s rooted in my training and the process I follow during practice,” he explained, as reported by a Media House.
“If I rely on the end result for confidence, it can fluctuate. Therefore, I focus on maintaining my confidence during practice,” he added.
This season, Jitesh's performance with RCB has significantly boosted his career, especially compared to last year when he scored only 187 runs in 14 innings at a strike rate of 131.
“Last year’s struggles were more about my mental state,” he reflected, as quoted by a Media House.
“I wasn’t fully present in the game; my mind was preoccupied with future concerns. However, after meeting Dinesh [Karthik], he reassured me that it’s a common human error and not something to overthink,” he added.
“He observed my batting style, my approach to dominating the game, and my desire to win. I’m not just focused on scoring runs; I aim to win matches. He identified some areas in my game that needed improvement, and we’ve begun working on those,” he noted.
This season, Jitesh has emerged as a key finisher, adding crucial strength to RCB's lower middle order. He is among only seven players, including teammates Rajat Patidar and Tim David, who maintain an average over 40 with a strike rate exceeding 150. Reflecting on his recent form, Jitesh emphasized that it all originates from a well-planned process developed behind the scenes.
“We are playing very strategically,” he stated, as quoted by a Media House.
“It’s not about recklessly attacking every bowler. We understand each player’s strengths within the batting lineup, and the management has assigned clear roles. For instance, Jitesh Sharma targets specific bowlers while Phil Salt focuses on others. This strategic approach allows us to play smartly rather than blindly dominating,” he concluded.