Jitesh Sharma: The Rising Star in Indian Cricket and IPL

Jitesh Sharma, a wicket-keeper batter from India, has been making significant waves in the cricket world with his impressive performances in both domestic and international cricket. Born on October 22, 1993, in Amrawati, Maharashtra, Sharma has been a key player for Vidarbha in domestic competitions and the Punjab Kings in the Indian Premier League (IPL).

Sharma’s cricketing journey began with a stellar outing in the 2012-13 Cooch Behar Trophy, where he scored 537 runs in 12 innings, including two centuries and one fifty. This early success paved the way for his debut in the Vijay Hazare Trophy in 2014 and the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy the following month. His T20 debut against Uttar Pradesh saw him scoring an attacking half-century, marking an instant impact in the shortest format of the game.

In the 2015-16 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, Sharma emerged as the third-highest run-scorer with 343 runs at a strike rate of 143.51, which included one century and two fifties. Although he was recruited by the Mumbai franchise for the 2016 IPL, he did not get a chance to play. However, his consistent performances in domestic limited-overs cricket eventually earned him a spot with the Punjab Kings in the 2022 IPL at his base price.

Sharma’s breakthrough season with Punjab Kings in 2022 and 2023 was notable, with him scoring 309 runs in 14 games in the 2023 IPL season. His power-hitting skills and wicket-keeping abilities caught the attention of national selectors, leading to his first call-up to the Indian national team as a replacement for Sanju Samson against Sri Lanka in early 2023.

As of now, Sharma continues to be a crucial player for Punjab Kings and is in contention for the wicket-keeper spot for India in the upcoming T20 World Cup. His ability to score aggressively from the start and his reliability behind the stumps make him a valuable asset to both his franchise and the national team.