Who Is Jitesh Sharma? Rising Indian Wicket-Keeper’s Journey, Stats & IPL Impact

Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s stand-in skipper Jitesh Sharma triggered a remarkable pre-match drama on 27 May 2025 when he accidentally handed the wrong team sheet to the match referee before the toss against Lucknow Super Giants at Lucknow’s Ekana Stadium. The mix-up unfolded moments after Sharma won the toss and chose to field in RCB’s final league fixture — a contest crucial to sealing a top-two finish in the IPL 2025 standings. Instead of the intended bowling-first line-up, Sharma submitted a sheet listing injured regular captain Rajat Patidar, prompting immediate objections from LSG officials and on-field commentators. Match officials halted proceedings while RCB hastily replaced Patidar with leg-spinner Suyash Sharma, restoring order but not before the incident went viral on social media. Key takeaways • What went wrong: Sharma grabbed the batting-first XI, containing Patidar’s name, from the analyst’s table instead of the chase-ready card prepared for a fielding start. • Immediate fallout: Presenter Deep Dasgupta pressed Sharma for clarity on Patidar’s fitness, forcing the keeper-batter to admit the error publicly. • Playoff implications: Despite the gaffe, RCB have already secured a playoff berth, and Sharma confirmed that pace spearhead Josh Hazlewood and finisher Tim David will return for the knockout stages, boosting the franchise’s title push. Inside the dressing room Team sources say head coach Andy Flower has instructed support staff to adopt a color-coded sheet system to eliminate any repeat of the “wrong-paper” fiasco. Senior all-rounder Glenn Maxwell downplayed the incident, calling it “the funniest thing I’ve seen at a toss in years,” while adding that Sharma’s calm recovery “shows he’s learning fast in the hot seat.” Fan reaction and social buzz #JiteshSharma trended across X and Instagram within minutes, with memes comparing the slip-up to past IPL blunders by Virat Kohli (2019) and Hardik Pandya (2022). Supporters argued the moment underlined the pressure RCB face to convert regular-season dominance into a maiden trophy. Performance on the night LSG skipper Rishabh Pant capitalized on the distraction, smashing a 55-ball century to power the hosts to 228/4. RCB’s chase faltered, but analysts say the result is less significant than ensuring a full-strength line-up for Qualifier 1 at Ahmedabad. What’s next for Jitesh Sharma? • Captaincy call: If Patidar’s finger injury persists, Sharma will continue as captain into the playoffs. • Strategy tweak: Expect RCB to reinforce middle-over control by pairing Hazlewood with Mohammed Siraj. • Personal milestone: Sharma, averaging 34.12 this season, needs 41 runs to cross 500 IPL runs — a landmark that could cement his place in India’s T20 World Cup squad. Bottom line The toss blunder may have embarrassed RCB momentarily, but it has thrust Jitesh Sharma into the national spotlight. How the 31-year-old responds in the business end of IPL 2025 will determine whether this viral slip becomes a footnote or a defining chapter in his rapid rise.