Jitesh Sharma’s tough run in IPL 2026 has continued, with the RCB wicketkeeper-batter once again failing to meet the standards expected of him. His latest struggles have drawn fresh criticism from former India batter Ambati Rayudu, who pointed to both a prolonged dip in form and ongoing technical shortcomings that have left Jitesh struggling to contribute consistently.
After looking like one of Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s standout bright spots in IPL 2025, Jitesh’s fortunes have taken a sharp turn this season. In his first seven outings of IPL 2026, he has mustered just 63 runs. The criticism has not been limited to output alone; his strike rate has also drawn attention, along with concerns that he has not been finishing innings when RCB need acceleration late in the chase. The franchise had kept faith in him as its preferred wicketkeeper-batter following an impressive 2025 campaign, when he produced 261 runs at a strike rate of 176.35. But in IPL 2026, his batting average has dropped to roughly 10.40 after the early stretch of the tournament, underlining how far his returns have fallen from last year’s impact.
Much of Jitesh’s reputation against Lucknow Super Giants was built on a memorable display in IPL 2025. On May 27, 2025, he delivered a match-defining knock of 85 not out from only 33 balls, helping RCB chase down a daunting target of 228. That innings also broke MS Dhoni’s mark for the highest score by a No. 6 or lower batter in a successful IPL chase, and it played a key part in Bengaluru finishing second on the points table. Yet in IPL 2026, the tone of the contest changed dramatically at the same venue and against the same opponent. In a high-pressure chase of 213, Jitesh managed just 1 run from 3 deliveries, and RCB ultimately lost by nine runs via the DLS method. His early dismissal quickly became a talking point, with fans and cricket observers questioning his ability to read the situation and make the right decisions in crunch moments.
Rayudu, speaking on ESPNcricinfo’s Timeout show, said the bigger worry is that Jitesh’s issues appear to be technical rather than merely temporary. He singled out Jitesh’s struggles against short-pitched bowling, arguing that the small break RCB would have had should have offered a chance to sharpen the relevant areas—but the problems seem to be recurring.
“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. 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,” Rayudu said.
One pattern Rayudu and others have highlighted is how consistently Jitesh has struggled against pace in IPL 2026. Across eight innings, he has been dismissed seven times by fast bowlers, and his returns versus pace are stark: he has scored only 28 runs at an average of four. Those numbers have intensified the backlash, especially because Jitesh’s earlier reputation suggested he could handle pressure situations and play with intent when given the opportunity.
Adding fuel to the criticism, supporters also resurfaced an old remark Jitesh made during an appearance on AB de Villiers’ YouTube channel last year. In a light-hearted moment, Jitesh had joked: “You won’t believe me, but I always pray to God for my top order to collapse so I can bat and score.” With his current difficulties in finishing innings and converting starts—or even reaching meaningful scores—the comment has again become a focal point for debate among fans.
