Jitesh Sharma, the dynamic wicketkeeper-batter who played a pivotal role in Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s historic IPL 2025 triumph, has broken his silence regarding his exclusion from India's T20 World Cup 2026 squad. Despite being a regular in the T20I setup, the 32-year-old was left out of the 15-member contingent, a decision that reportedly came without prior warning from the team management.
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Addressing the sudden omission, Jitesh shared his raw emotions and the lack of communication before the official announcement, "I wasn't aware of my omission until the squad was announced. After that, I agreed with the explanation given by the selectors in the press conference; it was a valid reason. Later, I had discussions with the coaches and selectors, and I felt their reasoning was fair. I completely understood what they wanted to explain to me, and I agreed with it."
He further added, "It was heartbreaking, as I had worked very hard to play in the ICC T20 World Cup. But that's destiny, I can't deny it. At that moment, I was numb and couldn't process anything. Spending time with my family and talking to Dinesh Karthik helped me move forward."
The snub comes as a surprise to many, given Jitesh's incredible run with RCB in the 2025 season. Bought for a massive INR 11 Crore, he was an integral part of the winning side, finishing crucial games with his explosive hitting. He scored 261 runs in 11 innings at a blistering strike rate of 176.35, including a match-winning 85 not out off just 33 balls against Lucknow Super Giants.
However, his international numbers tell a slightly different story. Across 16 T20Is for India, Jitesh has scored 162 runs at an average of 18, though his strike rate remained an impressive 151.40. His recent form in national colours dipped during the crucial series against South Africa in December 2025, where he managed only 37 runs in three matches.
Ultimately, the selectors opted for other options, leaving the RCB star to accept the decision with grace, despite the initial shock of the news.
