INTERVIEW
Follow UsAs India's T20I squad was announced for the West Indies series, it was shocking to see the 29-year-old Jitesh Sharma not on the list. Not only has the wicket-keeper batter shown some splendid form over the last two Indian Premier League (IPL) seasons, but was also a part of India's T20I home series against Sri Lanka and New Zealand.
Batting primarily at number five and below, Jitesh has constantly managed to register quickfire starts for Punjab Kings. His strike rate of 159.24 in the IPL is the fifth highest overall for any batter with more than 500 runs. That speaks volumes of his power-hitting and how it binds well with the modern approach of T20 batting.
Jitesh Sharma spoke to Cricket.com on the selection snub for the India tour of West Indies, his stint so far with Punjab Kings, Vidarbha and more about his cricketing journey.
First thoughts on missing out on the squad selection for the West Indies tour?
Jitesh Sharma: Just one sentence, 'God has a bigger plan for me.'
You were a part of the Indian team during the New Zealand and Sri Lanka series at home, so how was your experience?
Jitesh Sharma: It was a great learning process. You are 28-29, but you still want to learn. When you go to the highest level, you still feel incomplete and have so many things to learn about the game. So it was very thrilling.
I was so keen to go there, in the nets, in the warm-up, everywhere. I was so excited. I am someone who never gets tense. I always enjoy the pressure, so it was a very good experience and I think I enjoyed it a lot there.
Did you speak to Rahul Dravid? What did he and the other guys say to you?
Jitesh Sharma: They were quite welcoming. Rahul (Dravid) sir told me that you are doing very well and these are the kind of players that we are looking for. When I told him that I want to score big runs, he told me that at the position you play, runs don't matter, impact matters.
The more you contribute towards the win, that will be important for the team. When there's a collapse and you go out to bat around 7-8 overs, the team will be 4-5 wickets down, so you can't do much and just need to believe in your game. You have to take that score to a certain level so that the team can fight for it.
Your batting exploits have been well-known. How has that journey with Vidarbha helped you shape your own cricketing career?
Jitesh Sharma: Playing for your home state (Vidarbha) or district always helps you grow. I won't say everyone there was helpful. But there were a few people like Ranjit Paradkar, Pritam Gandhe, the coach and some seniors who helped me.
They always believed in my skills and ability. There are ifs and buts in the state, you know that. Some will love your game, some will oppose it, but others believed in me that I could do big things for the team in the shorter format and supported me. Because of them, I can say that I am here right now.
Who has been your inspiration growing up?
Jitesh Sharma: While growing up, I always used to look up to Sourav Ganguly because my dad is a big fan of him. He used to talk about him a lot and because of that my jersey number is 99 in the IPL. Later, I got to know that every player should be your idol because every player has different skill sets. You have to idolize every player playing international cricket because there is so much to learn from everyone.
As a wicketkeeper, I admired Adam Gilchrist and MS Dhoni. Have also followed Rohit (Sharma) bhai and Virat (Kohli) closely. I love to watch Ambati Rayudu's batting as well. He was with us in VCA. I learnt a lot from him because of the person he is and the thought process he has towards the game is amazing.
You were a part of the Mumbai Indians squad back in 2016-17. How was the experience sharing the dressing room with Sachin Tendulkar, Rohit Sharma and other stars?
Jitesh Sharma: I feel it was a life-changing experience in Mumbai Indians. It's unbelievable when a 22-23-year-old youngster gets a chance to share the dressing room with Sachin Tendulkar and Rohit Sharma.
I was quite shy to go and ask about my game back then, but I observed a lot from them. I used to watch Rohit Sharma bat for a very long time behind the nets, even Jos Buttler. It was a very good experience overall.
Post that, it was only in 2022 that you found a home in IPL, so how did you keep yourself motivated during this phase?
Jitesh Sharma: It had been a very hard time for me after 2017. As a player, you get frustrated when you know you're capable but not playing. People are not appreciating you. So initially, I was very frustrated, I was not thinking very clearly and became a bit aggressive while speaking because it all happened suddenly. I got dropped from my state team, also. It was a very hard time for me, and I struggled a lot.
However, in that phase, my family, especially my brother and girlfriend, helped me greatly.
They told me that I started playing cricket to enjoy. “You never wanted to become a cricketer, you wanted to be in the air force, so you don't worry about anything. Just go, be set and in a good mindspace and enjoy”.
That helped in calming myself down. In 2021 and 2022, Pritam Gandhe sir gave me the freedom and told me that you have the calibre and skill so just go express yourself and don't worry about anything, and I think that has helped me a lot.
T20 has evolved and Punjab Kings have been clear with their power-hitting approach. What has been the message from the coach and captain since last year?
Jitesh Sharma: Punjab Kings have been very clear in their communication about my role. They told me straightaway that you don't have to worry about the situation and play your game. To win a game, we have to score 200 or a good total because in IPL or T20, you cannot defend 150 on a good track.
So if the team collapses, you have to get the team to a good score of at least 200, so that was a clear message to me from Shikhar bhai and Trevor sir that no one is going to say a single word. You have the freedom to play all the shots and, at the same time, also try to be a little smart against whom you can attack and defend while taking your time. Minor adjustments.
Do you believe that strike rate matters in the T20 format?
Jitesh Sharma: I think strike rate only matters for lower-order batters because when you go with the team strategy, everyone's roles are different. So if the head coach has told you to play long till 15-20 overs, you can't have a strike rate of 160-180.
You will probably score at 130-140 and others around you can play accordingly.
Having spent time with big hitters like Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Liam Livingstone, did they provide any valuable insights with regards to power hitting?
Jitesh Sharma: Bhanuka Rajapaksa and Wasim Jaffer have given me a lot of advice. Both told me that you have to be patient and continue to do what you've been doing without much expectation. You don't have to prove your Indian call-up, so just enjoy the pressure, watch the ball and play your game.
You used to hit 400 sixes in a day in a net session, heading up to the IPL. Can you elaborate on this story and how did you come up with this number?
Jitesh Sharma: Not in a single net session, I'll die otherwise (laughs). I used to divide it in 10 sets, so it was close to 400 sixes in a day at different sessions, like morning, afternoon and evening. I used to try and make it to 10 sets because that's what I also did at the gym and after 40 I used to feel tired, so that's how I got that number for each set.
Do you enjoy the switch to finishing and is it something you really relish?
Jitesh Sharma: I seriously enjoy finishing. Because as a finisher, you have a chance to become a hero or zero either, and I love that situation and feeling. I love it when people trust you to finish games. I like to be electric. So I am really enjoying being a finisher.
What was the conversation with MS Dhoni during the IPL?
Jitesh Sharma: I didn't get a chance to speak this time. Last year, I spoke to him after my debut game. Rayudu bhai took me to meet him. Mahi bhai told me to work on my intensity because there is a difference in intensity between the IPL and Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, rest all are similar. Rather than practising for six hours, you can practice for one hour but bat and keep with high intensity.
What are your future aspirations?
Jitesh Sharma: Frankly speaking, I don't think much about the future. As a human, I have expectations but I try to keep them under control. Right now, my sole focus is on my fitness and skills and how to keep it at prime.
