Jitesh Sharma denied entry at Lord's despite invitation; Dinesh Karthik comes to help

Published - 16 Jul 2025, 20:30 IST | Updated - 16 Jul 2025, 20:32 IST

During the recent third Test between England and India at the iconic Lord’s Cricket Ground, India wicketkeeper-batter Jitesh Sharma was denied entry into the venue by a security official who failed to recognise him. The incident, which was documented by a fan, has gone viral. However, Jitesh was rescued by fellow cricketer and commentator Dinesh Karthik.

The 31-year-old who tried to enter the stadium in the middle of the large crowd was stopped at the entrance, with security officials demanding verification. Despite his efforts to explain his identity, the guards did not allow him to enter. The situation escalated when fans began recognising Jitesh, even when he struggled to gain entry. Luckily, former Indian cricketer Dinesh Karthik, now a commentator, assisted the cricketer out of the chaos.

However, after the video went viral, Karthik himself reposted the video, saying the incident took place outside the commentary box and not at the entrance of the ground. Notably, the former had invited Jitesh to the area to meet him and other commentators. Karthik also mentioned that social media often doesn't reveal a clear picture.

"These are some issues with social media that a lot face I invited jitesh to the comm box , he had come , and I came and met him down and took him to the comm box and he met everyone there Btw this is below the media center, not the entrance to the ground," Karthik wrote on X.

These are some issues with social media that a lot face I invited jitesh to the comm box , he had come , and I came and met him down and took him to the comm box and he met everyone there Btw this is below the media center , not the entrance to the ground 😊 https://t.co/Z22AAyp3CN

Meanwhile, Jitesh played a crucial role in Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s (RCB) maiden IPL title win earlier this year, smashing an unbeaten 85 against LSG and breaking MS Dhoni’s record for the highest score by a No.6 or lower batter in a successful IPL chase.

Recently, Jitesh also announced his transfer from Vidarbha to Baroda ahead of the upcoming season. With limited first-class appearances for Vidarbha due to the presence of Akshay Wadkar, the switch to Baroda was possibly influenced by his bond with Krunal Pandya, who was his RCB teammate. The Amrawati-born has played nine T20Is for India since his debut at the 2023 Asian Games.