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Punjab Kings’ wicketkeeper-batter Jitesh Sharma, who has been part of India’s T20I squads, has shared the teams he would prefer to play for if not retained by Punjab Kings in the upcoming IPL auction.
Jitesh has captained Punjab Kings in the absence of Shikhar Dhawan and Sam Curran and served as the team’s vice-captain. Known for his aggressive batting, Jitesh has contributed significantly to Punjab’s middle order especially when the top order failed.
Recently, Jitesh was part of the India-Bangladesh series but did not play as Sanju Samson held the wicketkeeping duties.Samson went on to score the second-fastest century for India.
When asked if Punjab Kings would retain him for IPL 2025, Jitesh stated that he had not received any communication from the team. He said, “Let’s see. If I am in their plans, they will retain me; otherwise, they won’t because I have not received any communication yet from Punjab Kings.”
Jitesh expressed preference for playing with Chennai Super Kings or Mumbai Indians. He said, “If you ask me personally then I would prefer to play for CSK or MI.”
Having been part of Mumbai Indians in 2016-17, Jitesh shared his fondness for the team and the Wankhede Stadium. “I have experienced the MI atmosphere, and I love Wankhede because, as a Maharashtrian, it has always been close to my heart. During my younger days, I watched matches at Wankhede and sat outside, feeling the vibe. I want to experience that feeling while playing inside the stadium for Mumbai Indians.”
He also mentioned his desire to play for Chennai Super Kings due to his respect for MS Dhoni and his friendship with CSK captain Ruturaj Gaikwad. “I would like to play for Chennai Super Kings because of Mahi bhai and because Ruturaj Gaikwad (CSK captain) is my good friend and I enjoy playing under him the same way I enjoy playing under Surya (Suryakumar Yadav) bhai.”
When questioned about the pressure of performing in the IPL, Jitesh stressed the importance of performing well at all levels. He said, “No, performing everywhere is important. Riyan Parag made it into the ODI side because of his performances in the Vijay Hazare Trophy. You have to perform at every platform you get, and the rewards will follow. White-ball players can be selected from the IPL, but domestic cricket performances are equally crucial. I got my chance because of my domestic cricket performances.”
Jitesh rose to prominence during the IPL 2022 season when he was acquired by Punjab Kings for INR 20 lakh. Serving primarily as a finisher, Jitesh made a significant impact, scoring 234 runs with a strike rate of 163.64. He continued his strong performance in the 2023 season, accumulating 309 runs with a strike rate of 156.06.
Over his tenure with Punjab Kings, which spans 40 matches, Jitesh has maintained a batting strike rate of over 151.14, solidifying his reputation in the league. Despite his previous successes, his performance in IPL 2024 was below expectations. In that season, he managed to score only 187 runs across 14 innings, holding an average of 17.
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