India’s wicket-keeper Jitesh Sharma believes instinctive thinking is key for a modern T20 finisher. Sharma has done a fantastic job while adding the finishing touches in the last year and he is expected to be India’s first choice wicket-keeper in the Asia Cup ahead of Sanju Samson.
Meanwhile, Jitesh scored 261 runs in 11 innings of IPL 2025 at an impressive strike rate of 176.35 and thus played an instrumental role in taking RCB to glory for the first time in the tournament. The Vidarbha wicket-keeper batsman was roped in by RCB for INR 11 crore, and he was able to prove his mettle.
The right-hander had also smashed a blistering knock of 33-ball 85* against LSG to help RCB book a spot in Qualifier 1 in the previous season.
Speaking on an episode of Big Basket presents RCB Podcast, Jitesh said, “Batters from No.1 to No.3 have basic plans with them. Because they know they are going to face 120 balls, but we don’t know how many balls we will face, what situations we may face.”
He added, “In the last game (PBKS v RCB), they were thinking if they should send Tim or me, and they were sure I should go. If a wicket fell early, there was a discussion if KP (Krunal Pandya) should go or I should go or Tim should, that happens always, we are used to it. We’ve played so much cricket, I myself am a captain. If a wicket falls early, KP can go or I can go. If a spinner is bowling, Jitesh Sharma can face him. Rather than sending Liam (Livingstone), Jitesh will go, so we are very used to it. The match starts for me when I put my feet across the rope.”
Speaking about matchups in T20I cricket, Jitesh said, “Nowadays, you can see Rajat Patidar hits the best sixes to a left-arm spinner. Nicholas Pooran hits an off-spinner for three sixes in an over, that theory was there earlier and batters would think that way but now it has totally changed, anyone can hit.”
Jitesh concluded by talking about how a finisher’s role has evolved over the years, “Earlier, people would be scared to hit a sweep off Jasprit Bumrah, now they are playing a reverse sweep. Everything has changed now, the left-right combination doesn’t matter. But yes, there is an extra responsibility on the likes of Tim David and myself that when there is a team collapse or something else, we have to change our planning instinctively.”
Jitesh would look to deliver the goods in the Asia Cup.
