Has Jitesh Sharma Justified RCB’s ₹11 Crore Bet in IPL 2025? Here’s the Verdict!
Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) spent a whopping ₹11 crore to retain Jitesh Sharma ahead of IPL 2025. But has the wicketkeeper batter lived up to the hype so far? In the ongoing match against Gujarat Titans at the Chinnaswamy Stadium, RCB found themselves in deep trouble, losing five wickets for less than 100 runs. Enter Jitesh Sharma calm, composed, and ready to rise to the occasion.
Jitesh played a crucial knock of 33 runs off 21 balls , pulling RCB out of the slump. While his performance was impactful, it also raises the question: Is this enough to justify his hefty price tag? Let’s dive into the numbers and analyze whether Jitesh Sharma is worth every penny for RCB.
Jitesh Sharma Performance in IPL 2025 So Far
Here’s how Jitesh has performed in the first few matches of IPL 2025:
| Match | Runs | Balls | Strike-Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| CSK | 12 | 6 | 200 |
| GT | 33 | 21 | 157.14 |
- Against CSK, Jitesh scored 12 runs off 6 balls at an impressive strike rate of 200.
- In the ongoing match against GT, he contributed 33 runs off 21 balls with a strike rate of 157.14 While these numbers show glimpses of promise, they aren’t consistent enough yet to label him as a game changer.
Jitesh Sharma Performance in Previous IPL Seasons
Let’s take a closer look at Jitesh stats from previous seasons:
| Season | Innings | Runs | Average | Strike-Rate | 50+/100 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 14 | 187 | 17 | 131.69 | 0/0 |
| 2023 | 14 | 309 | 23.77 | 156.14 | 0/0 |
| 2022 | 12 | 234 | 29.25 | 163.64 | 0/0 |
2022 : Jitesh averaged 29.25 with a strike rate of 163.64.
2023 : He improved slightly, averaging 23.77 with a strike rate of 156.14.
2024 : His numbers dipped, averaging just 17 with a strike rate of 131.69.
Despite showing potential, Jitesh hasn’t scored a single fifty-plus score across three seasons.
The Role of a Finisher
Jitesh Sharma has been used as a finisher a role previously handled by Dinesh Karthik for RCB. As a finisher, the focus isn’t solely on runs but on delivering high impact performances when the team needs them most.
In IPL 2025, Jitesh has batted only twice so far. While his knock against GT was impactful, consistency remains a concern.
Conclusion: Has Jitesh Justified His ₹11 Crore Price Tag?
The verdict is mixed. While Jitesh Sharma has shown flashes of brilliance, his overall performance in IPL 2025 and previous seasons doesn’t fully justify the ₹11 crore investment.
Positives :
Played a match saving knock against GT.
Delivered a high strike rate in two innings this season.
Negatives :
No fifty plus scores in IPL career.
Strike rates below 200 a benchmark expected from a finisher.
For now, it’s fair to say that Jitesh hasn’t fully justified his price tag. However, there’s still time for him to turn things around and prove his worth in the ongoing season.
Will Jitesh step up in the upcoming matches? Only time will tell!
