'I am ready for the challenge, depends on the franchise' - Jitesh Sharma on captaincy aspirations at RCB [Exclusive]

Published - 13 Jan 2026, 16:19 IST | Updated - 13 Jan 2026, 17:28 IST

Jitesh Sharma led the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in the last two matches of the round-robin phase of the Indian Premier League (IPL) last year when Rajat Patidar was recovering from an injury. The eventual champions won both games, with Jitesh registering scores of 24 (15) and 85* (33). These two wins were crucial for RCB, as they helped them not only to qualify for the playoffs but also finish in the top two.

During an exclusive interview with CricTracker, Jitesh was asked if he would be interested in taking up captaincy in a full-time capacity. The experienced wicketkeeper-batter asserted that he is up for the challenge.

"I feel I'm ready for the challenge. It all depends on the franchisee and whatever comes my way; let's see, but I'm ready," Jitesh said.

Before IPL 2025, the Baroda cricketer said, "Don’t worry, Jitesh Sharma," in an interview with CricXtasy, and this quote went viral in no time. He was trolled by some fans, who felt he was overconfident. However, Jitesh lived up to his words, playing a key role in RCB's maiden IPL-winning campaign after a long wait of 18 years.

When asked if he put himself under the added pressure of performing after delivering the quote, Jitesh said that confidence is always necessary for a player. He revealed that his confidence stems from the trust he has in the process he follows and having the right people around him, like his mentor, Dinesh Karthik.

"As a player, confidence is extremely important. I felt proud, and I couldn’t believe those words had turned into reality. That confidence came from trusting my process and having the right people around me, like Dinesh Karthik. When that confidence translates into results, it’s a different feeling altogether. That’s when people start respecting you and say, “This man is true to his word," Jitesh mentioned.

Jitesh was asked which captain's style he enjoys the most. The 32-year-old said that every captain has their strengths and weaknesses. However, he stated the names of Suryakumar Yadav and Rajat Patidar as the captains he enjoys playing under the most.

I wasn't aware of my omission from squad: Jitesh Sharma

"I think it would be unfair to single out one captain. Obviously, Rohit bhai was there, along with Rajat and Surya bhai as well. I’ve enjoyed playing under all of them. Everyone has a different character, with their own strengths and weaknesses, but all of them were very clear about what they wanted to do. Obviously, I enjoyed playing under Surya bhai and Rajat a lot," Jitesh said.