Jitesh Sharma on learning from Dinesh Karthik: “He’s just like me, I finally feel understood”
"He's someone I truly relate to—and that’s D.K. Anna (Dinesh Karthik). He’s a major reason I feel so settled right now. Having played a similar role for both Team India and in the IPL, he really understands my game. I feel completely at ease talking to him," Jitesh shared during the JioStar 'GenBold' show.
Hyderabad: Royal Challengers Bengaluru wicketkeeper batter Jitesh Sharma said that he had finally found someone he could truly work with—someone he could learn from, someone who matched his wavelength.
” Someone who is just like me. And that someone is D.K. Anna (Dinesh Karthik). He is one of the biggest reasons I feel settled. He has played the same role for the Indian team and in the IPL too. I’m very comfortable talking to him,” Jitesh said during the JioStar ‘GenBold’ show.
“DK understands my feelings and my game, and I understand what he’s trying to convey. He has performed under pressure and knows what kind of risks are involved in key moments,” he said.
“Earlier, I never had this kind of conversation with anyone because not many have succeeded while batting at No. 6. And those who have, they usually play for teams like the Chennai Super Kings or other big franchises,” Jitesh said.
” But now, I get to interact with DK daily. Being a wicketkeeper-batter himself, he understands me, and I understand what he expects. I’ve got more freedom here. I had it in my previous team too, but now I’m also learning new things and gaining insights I hadn’t before,” he said.
“DK has pulled me out of my comfort zone and into a new space I haven’t been in before. I’ve always had certain shots in my arsenal, but I didn’t believe in them,” Jitesh said.
“I never worked on them because previous coaches would say, ‘Go straight, play this way, play that way.’ It’s true that hitting sixes in the ‘V’ is my strength, but I always wanted to learn more,” he said.
“My mindset is—if someone is teaching and I can add a new skill, why not? DK told me to use my natural hand movement and encouraged me to try. They picked me for those abilities, so they saw something. DK saw something, and that’s how things are evolving now. This is just the beginning,” Jitesh said.
On captain Rajat Patidar, Jitesh said he was a very simple person. “He’s easy to talk to—you wouldn’t even notice him in the dressing room. It’s only when we step on the field that you realize he’s the captain. That’s just his personality—calm and composed under pressure,” he said.
“Rajat can assess situations from multiple angles. As a wicketkeeper, whenever I go up to him with suggestions, he engages right away, asking questions like, ‘What can we do if this happens?’ It shows how calm and in control he is. That’s one big reason behind his current success. There’s still one big challenge in front of him—securing our first win at Chinnaswamy this season. But the belief in the camp is strong,” Jitesh explained.
