Jitesh Sharma picks his all-time IPL XI, ignores teammate Virat Kohli [Exclusive]

Published - 13 Jan 2026, 10:43 IST | Updated - 13 Jan 2026, 11:20 IST

During an exclusive conversation with CricTracker, Jitesh Sharma named his all-time IPL XI. It came as a huge surprise when he did not include Royal Challengers Bengaluru teammate and the IPL's leading run-getter Virat Kohli. IPL 2026 is all set to be Jitesh's second season with the 2025 champions. He was previously a part of Punjab Kings for three seasons before being acquired by RCB for INR 11 crore at the mega auction ahead of IPL 2025.

The wicketkeeper-batter played an instrumental role in RCB's title-winning triumph in the marquee tournament's 18th edition. Playing mostly as a finisher, he amassed 261 runs in 11 innings at an impressive strike rate of 176.35 in a season wherein Kohli top-scored for the Bengaluru franchise, ending up with 657 runs in the road to RCB's maiden triumph in the cash-rich tournament.

The Amravati-born picked up the right-left duo of Rohit Sharma and Adam Gilchrist to open the batting. Rohit is the second leading run-getter of the IPL and a five-time winner as captain of Mumbai Indians. On the other hand, Gilchrist played a vital part in the now-defunct Deccan Chargers' path to victory. Indian T20I skipper and the ever-dynamic Suryakumar Yadav was picked up as the No. 3 batter.

The former South African pairing of Jacques Kallis and AB de Villiers were slotted in as Jitesh's choices for in crucial middle-order roles. The legendary Chennai Super Kings stalwart MS Dhoni was placed between the pace-bowling all-rounder and spin-bowling all-rounder duo of Hardik Pandya and Axar Patel, respectively. Dhoni, who has won five titles as captain, was expectedly chosen as the leader of the side.

Varun Chakravarthy, who has only grown from strength to strength after landing up in Kolkata Knight Riders in 2020, made a way into XI as the lone frontline spinner. Josh Hazlewood, his RCB teammate, was shortlisted by the 32-year-old to complement Mumbai Indians' spearhead Jasprit Bumrah in the pace-bowling department.

Jitesh Sharma names his all-time best wicket-keepers

Rohit Sharma, Adam Gilchrist (wk), Suryakumar Yadav, Jacques Kallis, AB de Villiers, Hardik Pandya, MS Dhoni (c), Axar Patel, Varun Chakravarthy, Jasprit Bumrah, Josh Hazlewood