In a sport where achievements are often celebrated with great enthusiasm, Jitesh Sharma, the designated finisher for Royal Challengers Bengaluru, has made a strong transition from being an opener for most of his career. At 31, this wicketkeeper-batter, who once thrived as a top-order player, has embraced the reality of his new position. While it may not allow him the chance to hit personal milestones, it places him right in the center of RCB’s quest for success.

“Nowadays, it feels like everyone is a finisher,” Jitesh shared during an episode of RCB Bold Diaries, giving an honest look at the difficulties of batting in the lower middle order.

“But batting at No. 6 or No. 7 is tough. Since I started finishing, I haven’t scored a fifty. I used to be an opener, racking up fifties and centuries.”

His recent explosive performance, scoring 40 runs off just 19 balls in RCB’s narrow 12-run victory against the Mumbai Indians, highlighted how traditional milestones don’t always reflect a player’s worth in T20 cricket. “I used to love raising my bat when I hit a milestone,” he reminisced.

“But since I took on the finisher role, I haven’t had the opportunity to score a fifty. It’s mostly been 10 balls for 30 runs or 20 balls for 40 runs.

“For us, those scores feel like fifties. If you get 60 or 70 runs in 30 balls, it’s like hitting a hundred. And honestly, I’m really happy doing this, especially when the team wins,” he concluded.

Jitesh's perspective on the WK role

Jitesh’s position behind the stumps has really enhanced his understanding of match dynamics.

“Your brain can definitely get worn out. But the upside is that you can steer the game from that spot. You start to grasp what your bowlers can achieve on a particular pitch. Plus, you get a feel for how to handle top batters, which is a big plus,” he explained.

“When a new batsman faces four to six balls, he starts to figure out the pitch. I can do that in just two balls since I’ve been behind the stumps before.”

RCB mentor Dinesh Karthik, who is an expert in finishing games, sees great promise in Jitesh. “He’s always eager to learn… If I get to work with him for a year or two, I believe we can really push Jitesh to new heights,” Karthik shared.

For now, Jitesh Sharma is content being RCB’s quiet powerhouse — delivering one crucial performance at a time.

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