Jitesh Sharma has been named in India’s Asia Cup 2025 squad as the second-choice wicketkeeper. Dinesh Karthik, who mentored Jitesh at RCB, shares a strong bond with the batter both having played similar roles behind the stumps.
Following Jitesh’s selection, Karthik opened up to Cricbuzz about a heartfelt conversation they had during the IPL 2025 season. He spoke about Jitesh’s mindset while waiting for the India call-up and how a shift in approach helped him bounce back..
Jitesh played a crucial cameo in the IPL final, scoring 24 runs off just 10 balls. Across the season, he amassed 261 runs at an average of 37, with a stellar strike rate of over 175, a standout performance that helped RCB lift their maiden IPL title and sealed Jitesh’s comeback to the national side.
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Dinesh Karthik on Jitesh’s Mindset:
“This was part of his questioning to me: ‘I want to do well. Obviously, I want to try and represent India. But I don’t want to get too caught up and put so much pressure on myself that I’m not enjoying playing wherever I am.’
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Our journey as coach and player really began there — just having those conversations,” Karthik told Cricbuzz.
He went on to reveal how Jitesh had always played with freedom — until he was left out of the T20 World Cup 2024 squad. That moment, according to Karthik, changed everything.
“I think he was never someone who was desperate to play for India. He played freely and confidently for Kings, made it to the Indian team, and accepted when he was on the fringes after a dip in form.
But when the T20 World Cup 2024 came around and he wasn’t picked, that’s when he became desperate. The pressure started affecting his performances.
I was quite fond of the kid — he was honest, earnest, and truly wanted to get better. But I think he reached a point where he didn’t know how to move forward. I just took note of that and stayed close,” Karthik said.
Unlocking the Finisher in Jitesh
Karthik also explained how they worked together at RCB to sharpen Jitesh’s skills for the finisher’s role — a key reason behind his resurgence.
“What he wanted to work on was: how do I finish a game? How do I get the team above par? He was playing a lot of cameos, but didn’t know how to build that one big innings that changes the game. I kind of know what it takes to do that. And with the skills he had, there was so much potential — I just had to unlock it.” Karthik Concluded
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