Royal Challengers Bengaluru wicket-keeper batter Jitesh Sharma is enduring an IPL 2026 campaign that has been difficult to watch, at least in terms of batting output. Even though he has been used in every match by RCB, the numbers have not matched the expectations that come with a frontline role in a side that has been playing with intensity at the top end of the points table. Through eight innings, Jitesh has managed only 64 runs, and that slump has drawn fresh scrutiny after RCB’s second consecutive defeat—this time against Lucknow Super Giants on Thursday. With the playoff race starting to heat up, his struggles have become a talking point not just for fans in the stands, but also for former players analysing the technique.
Former India batter Ambati Rayudu was particularly direct in his assessment, suggesting that Jitesh has not done enough work to iron out the technical issues in his game. Rayudu’s focus was on how Jitesh has been delayed when facing shorter deliveries, an area that can be punished heavily in T20 cricket where batters often have only a split second to adjust. “I think he had a great opportunity to come back sharp after the small break that they had, but he just seems to be getting late on short balls. That’s an area he could have worked on in this gap, and I don’t think he did,” Rayudu said while speaking on ESPNcricinfo.
Rayudu also warned that the nature of the tournament makes it harder to correct a repeated flaw mid-season. “The same thing is happening again and again, and it’s not a good sign because IPL matches come really fast. If you have a weakness that is as profound as what we are seeing with Jitesh, it becomes very hard to compensate for it or improve during the tournament because there are not many practice sessions and not much time now,” he added.
The contrast with last year is striking. Jitesh, who was bought for Rs 11 crore in IPL 2025, produced a memorable knock at the Ekana Cricket Ground when RCB faced LSG—an unbeaten 85 off 33 balls that helped swing the game in Bengaluru’s favour. But when the teams met again at the same venue in IPL 2026, Jitesh’s contribution was minimal: he managed just 1 run, and RCB ultimately went down by 9 runs.
So far in IPL 2026, Jitesh’s 64 runs have arrived at a strike rate of 108.47, a sharp decline from the 176.35 he was delivering at this stage last season. His highest score this year is 23, underlining how frequently he has struggled to convert starts into meaningful totals. With RCB losing games in quick succession and the scenario tightening as the playoffs approach, the wicket-keeper batter’s place in the XI is now being questioned more openly—especially given that the current form is coming with a clear, repeatable weakness that opponents can plan against.
