Jitesh Sharma is set to make a long-awaited return to the Indian cricket dressing room after more than a year, having earned a spot in India’s Asia Cup 2025 squad. The wicketkeeper-batter replaces Rishabh Pant, who is yet to recover from a toe injury sustained during the England tour. Jitesh comes into the tournament on the back of a career-defining season, playing a crucial role in helping Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) clinch their maiden IPL title earlier this year.

Behind Jitesh’s resurgence lies the mentorship of RCB batting coach and former India cricketer Dinesh Karthik. Speaking to Cricbuzz, Dinesh Karthik revealed that Jitesh was never fixated on earning a national call-up but instead focused on mastering the art of finishing games.

“I think he was never someone desperate to play for India,” Dinesh Karthik shared. “He was very free, played confidently for Kings, and then broke into the Indian side. But around the T20 World Cup 2024, he became desperate, which added pressure and affected his performances.”

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After moving from Vidarbha to Baroda and parting ways with Punjab Kings, Jitesh found himself at RCB as Karthik’s replacement. That’s when his transformation truly began. “He wanted to learn how to finish games and get teams above par scores. He had the skills but needed guidance to convert cameos into match-winning knocks,” Karthik explained.

Karthik identified that while Jitesh was exceptional at playing straight and striking down the ground, he lacked innovative shots—a skill often essential for modern T20 cricket. “He had a great vertical swing, but he’d been told to only focus on his strengths. I wanted him to embrace innovation and build confidence in using the full field,” Dinesh Karthik added.

The mentorship paid off quickly. Jitesh’s sparkling knock against Rishabh Pant earlier this season and his impactful 24-run cameo in the IPL final showcased his ability to handle pressure in big moments. Those performances not only helped RCB lift their first IPL trophy but also revived his international career prospects.

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Now, with Pant sidelined, Jitesh’s return provides India with a fearless middle-order option and a reliable wicketkeeper ahead of a crucial tournament. As the Asia Cup kicks off on September 9 in the UAE, all eyes will be on Jitesh to see if he can carry his IPL heroics onto the international stage and cement his place in India’s T20I setup.