Jitesh Sharma Opens Up About Pressure To Perform For World Cup Selection

April 10, 2025: Royal Challengers Bengaluru wicketkeeper-batter Jitesh Sharma has opened up about the pressure he faced during the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024, as he aimed for a spot in India’s World Cup squad. Sharma admitted that the weight of selection had a significant impact on his mindset, causing him to overthink his performances.

“Last year, because of the World Cup selection, I was not present in the IPL. So, in every game, I was thinking that I have to score, I have to score to get selected in the World Cup,” Sharma shared in a video posted by IPL. “I am not ashamed to accept it. I am a human. A human can make mistakes, and I have no problem with that. Last year, I was playing with my mind.”

However, things started to change when Dinesh Karthik, the seasoned wicketkeeper-batter, became his mentor after the IPL auction. Karthik quickly recognized Sharma’s mental struggle and provided him with crucial guidance, urging him to focus on his strengths rather than the pressure of selection.

“I spoke to D.K. [Dinesh Karthik], and I told him that these were the things I was playing with in my mind,” Sharma continued. “My work with D.K. started after the auction. As soon as the auction was over, I got a call from him. He was saying that this year, I am thinking so much for you that I know your strength. So, he was talking mentally. When Vijay Hazare and Syed Mushtaq was playing, he was saying that whatever I am saying, try to do it in the matches.”

This advice proved invaluable to Sharma, as it helped him stay grounded and focused on his game. His improved mindset, coupled with his natural ability, led to impressive performances in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and Vijay Hazare Trophy.

Sharma’s IPL journey started with the Mumbai Indians in 2016, though he didn’t get a chance to play. He was later bought by Punjab Kings in 2022, where he made an immediate impact as a finisher. In the 2022 season, he scored 234 runs at a strike rate of 163.64, and followed it up with 309 runs at a strike rate of 156.06 in 2023.

His strong performances as a finisher earned him a T20I debut and caught the eye of Royal Challengers Bengaluru, who secured him for a whopping Rs 11 crore ahead of the IPL 2025 auction. So far, in four matches for RCB, Sharma has impressed with 85 runs at an average of 42.50 and a blistering strike rate of 184.

Looking ahead, RCB will face Delhi Capitals in their 24th match of the IPL 2025 at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. While RCB has won all three of its away games so far, they are still in search of their first home victory this season.