Royal Challengers Bengaluru wicketkeeper-batsman Jitesh Sharma has revealed that his father died days before the start of India’s T20 World Cup 2026 campaign and that being dropped from the team allowed him to spend his last days with him. Jitesh said he has no regrets about missing out on the World Cup, adding that he was lucky to be by his father’s side when he needed him the most.
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Jitesh, who was India’s second-choice batsman till last year’s Asia Cup, was left out of the T20 World Cup squad in the form of Ishan Kishan. Incidentally, in Jitesh’s absence, the Indian wicketkeeper-batsman Sanju Samson and Ishan Kishan played a pivotal role in the team’s historic triumph.
Speaking to PTI Videos, Jitesh said he was disappointed when he first heard the news of his omission, but later realized that his father needed his support more.
Jitesh dropped out alongside Shubman Gill as India opted to back two wicketkeepers in the top three in the T20 World Cup.
“When I heard the news, I was a bit disappointed. I am also human so I was sad at first. But my family and friends supported me a lot and the sad phase got shorter. My father fell ill and died on February 1 and I was with him for seven days,” said Jitesh.
“Later I realized that my dad needed me more than the World Cup. I don’t regret it. I’m not angry or anything. I’m grateful to God that I could be with him and take care of him in his last days.”
IPL 2026 Phase 1: Schedule
“I enjoyed watching the World Cup from home, which is a completely different and stressful feeling than playing. I am really happy for the boys – they have fulfilled the vision of the coach, the captain and the team since the Asian Cup. They have fulfilled their promise. They have worked really hard for this goal,” he said.
VIDEO | Indian cricketer Jitesh Sharma missed out on the Indian team that won the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 title.
“I’m human too, so I was sad at first. But my family and friends supported me a lot and that phase passed. My father got sick and died pic.twitter.com/HoGJACXsOz— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) March 11, 2026
Despite being a mainstay in the national setup before the squad was announced, Jitesh dropped out of the bottom fifteen.
The decision, spearheaded by chief selector Ajit Agarkar and head coach Gautam Gambhir, appeared to be more of a tactical shift than a slight dent in Jitesh’s abilities. Agarkar later clarified that the committee favored a goalkeeper who could provide cover at the top of the order. With Sanju Samson as the main choice behind the stumps, the selectors opted for Kishan, whose blistering form in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy could not be ignored – as a reserve specialist.
This maneuver allowed the team to find space for Rinku Singh’s explosive finish, a role that Jitesh tried with varying success.
JITESH STARTS PREPARATION FOR RCB RETURN
Jitesh Sharma has not played competitive cricket since his appearance for Baroda in January’s Vijay Hazare Trophy, India’s premier domestic over-50 competition.
However, the 32-year-old has started training for IPL 2026, where they will feature as defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru.
“In terms of preparation, I would say the preparations are good. There was a small camp recently and everyone looks sharp,” he said.
:Our CEO said after winning the trophy last year that we are not advocating; we are going for the trophy. So I think it’s a very important statement from him because when you’re defending you’re defensive, but when it comes to the chase you’re always going to attack.”
Jitesh played a key role in RCB’s maiden IPL triumph last year. He scored 261 runs in 11 innings at a strike rate of 176.35, playing the role of finisher to perfection.
RCB will begin their title defense on the opening day of IPL 2026. The defending champions will take on Sunrisers Hyderabad on March 28 at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru.
The IPL Board of Governors on Wednesday announced the schedule for the first 20 matches of the IPL 2026 season, which will be played between March 28 and April 12.
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Issued by:
Akshay Ramesh
Published on:
11 March 2026 20:25 IST
