Born on October 22, 1993, in the bustling town of Amravati, Maharashtra, Jitesh Sharma grew up in a modest Hindu Brahmin household. With his father, Mohan, grinding away in a private firm and his mother, Ashim, holding the family together as a homemaker, Jitesh’s early life was grounded in simplicity. As a kid, cricket was more of a playful escape— a way to dodge schoolwork and snag extra marks for army recruitment tests, a perk for school cricketers in Maharashtra. Yet, what started as a tactic to chase a military dream soon sparked a fiery passion for the game, redirecting his path to the cricket field.
Carving His Path in Domestic Cricket
Jitesh’s talent burst onto the scene during the 2012-13 Cooch Behar Trophy, where he smashed 537 runs in 12 innings, peppering the scoreboard with two centuries and a fifty. This breakout performance fast-tracked him to Vidarbha’s senior squad. His List A debut came in 2014 against Rajasthan in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, followed by a T20 debut against Uttar Pradesh, where he blasted a quickfire half-century. By 2015, he was donning whites for his first-class debut against Odisha in the Ranji Trophy. Jitesh’s flair was undeniable in the 2015-16 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, where he racked up 343 runs at a blistering strike rate of 143.51. He played a key role in Vidarbha’s historic 2018-19 Ranji Trophy triumph and led the run charts for them in the 2018-19 Vijay Hazare Trophy with 298 runs. Now, as Vidarbha’s white-ball captain, he’s a linchpin for the team.
IPL Stardom: From Bench to Spotlight
Jitesh’s IPL journey kicked off in 2016 with Mumbai Indians, but the dugout was his only stage that season. His real breakthrough arrived in 2022 with Punjab Kings, where he debuted against Chennai Super Kings, smashing 26 off 17 balls with an audacious flair. In IPL 2022, he notched 234 runs at a strike rate of 163.64, followed by a 309-run haul in 2023 at 156.06, cementing his reputation as a clutch finisher. Though 2024 saw a dip in form, Royal Challengers Bengaluru bet big on him, snapping him up for INR 11 crore in the 2025 auction. With 858 runs in 51 IPL matches, including 66 fours and 52 sixes, Jitesh’s explosive batting and sharp wicketkeeping make him a game-changer.
Jitesh Sharma : Wearing the India Blue
Jitesh’s international call came in January 2023, stepping in for an injured Sanju Samson in the T20I series against Sri Lanka. He made his India debut at the 2022 Asian Games against Nepal on October 3, 2023. In 9 T20Is, he’s scored 100 runs with a strike rate that reflects his aggressive style, though he faces stiff competition from wicketkeeping giants like Rishabh Pant. Still, his ability to turn games in the death overs keeps him in the selectors’ radar.
