Jitesh Sharma was India’s first-choice wicketkeeper-batter in the five-match T20I series against South Africa, which concluded on Friday (December 19) in Ahmedabad with India’s 30-run win.
But the 32-year-old cricketer, who represents Baroda in domestic cricket and Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the Indian Premier League (IPL), failed to find a place in India’s squad for the T20 World Cup 2026, which was announced by BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia in Mumbai on Saturday. Ishan Kishan, who finished as the highest run scorer in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT) 2025 and also led Jharkhand to the title win on Friday (December 18), was picked over Jitesh as the second wicketkeeper-batter in the T20 World Cup 2026 squad.
The selection committee’s decision to drop Jitesh came as a big shock for cricket fans and experts of the game. The right-handed batter was certain to get picked, but at the last moment, selectors decided to ignore him.
After Jitesh was ignored by the senior men’s selection committee, his IPL franchise, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), took to X to share a post for him, which is now going viral on the internet.
The 2025 IPL champions posted a photo which read “All Heart. Built To Fight,” and they captioned the post, “Brave. Bold. Brilliant. Can’t wait to see Jitesh’s heroics in the T20 format this IPL.”
Here’s a look:
Jitesh was signed for Rs 11 crore by RCB in the IPL 2025 mega auction, and he played a big role in the team’s maiden IPL title win this year. In 15 matches for the Bengaluru-based franchise, Jitesh scored 261 runs in 11 innings with a strike rate of 176.35.
It was because of his super show with the bat in the middle order for RCB in IPL 2025, Jitesh was picked in India’s Asia Cup 2025 squad and then also for the two five-match series against Australia (away) and South Africa (home).
Gill dropped
Along with Jitesh, Shubman Gill was also ignored by BCCI selectors for a place in India’s T20 World Cup 2026 squad on Saturday. Gill was India’s vice-captain in the T20I series against South Africa but was only able to score 32 runs as an opener in three matches.
As his replacement, Axar Patel was appointed as India’s vice-captain for the T20 World Cup 2026.