NEW DELHI: While fans know Jitesh Sharma for his explosive batting, the young cricketer has revealed his fascination with Bollywood and how it influences his perspective on cricket.

In an exclusive conversation with Sports Yaari, Jitesh shared insights about his favourite actors, memorable dialogues, and even compared his teammates to film icons.

Sports Yaari Exclusive - Jitesh Sharma on Abhishek Sharma: A rare player who lets his bat and words do the talking

Bollywood heroes who inspired him

Jitesh opened up about his love for cinema, saying, “Irfan Khan was my favourite hero. I also like Rajpal Yadav. Pankaj Tripathi, main thoda skills dekhta hu, I love acting. All Khans are there, evergreen hai.”

He explained that he admires not just their on-screen persona but also their craft and timing. “I love actors who can manipulate the scene and deliver with precision. Watching them inspires me to bring that focus and creativity into cricket.”

When asked about a dialogue that stayed with him, Jitesh recalled one of Irfan Khan’s iconic lines: “Pyar tha isliye jane diya, agar zid hoti toh aaj bahon mein hoti. Irfan Khan ne yeh bola tha" (It was love, that's why I let them go. If it had been stubbornness, they would have been in my arms today)

Teammates through Bollywood lens

Jitesh also had some fun comparing his teammates to Bollywood legends, giving fans a glimpse of the camaraderie in the squad. “Bumrah is the Amitabh Bachchan of the team. Sab unko respect se dekhte hain (Everyone looks at him with respect). Jab hi aapko wicket chahite, let’s bring Amitabh Bachchan.”

He continued with a playful tone, “Abhishek Sharma is the Salman Khan of the team, Dabang style. Gill is the Shahrukh Khan of the team because of style, rap, fashion. You will be very warmed to see him.”

This light-hearted comparison shows the mix of admiration and humour within the team, reflecting how players bond beyond cricket.