Jitesh Sharma is rapidly establishing himself as a reliable alternate skipper for IPL teams. By stepping in every time Rajat Patidar is unavailable for Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Jitesh is proving that he can step up under pressure. While his captaincy experience might be limited, it has produced some of the most memorable performances for RCB thus far. With consistent performances in IPL and domestic cricket, as well as India A, Jitesh is now poised to take charge of RCB once more. The numbers behind Jitesh’s leadership show the journey of an emerging cricketer becoming a skipper.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru has made it clear where their priorities lie by choosing Jitesh over Virat Kohli to lead them. It is clear that Kohli has distanced himself from captaincy, and Jitesh has proven to be a reliable deputy. His bold approach, decisive actions, and composure in the field make him a natural choice for captaincy in short-term high-stress games.
Jitesh Sharmaโs Track Record As RCB Skipper
Jitesh Sharma has captained RCB in three IPL matches across the 2025 and 2026 seasons. His first assignment came against Sunrisers Hyderabad on May 23, 2025. RCB lost that match by 42 runs. Four days later, he produced a standout captainโs performance against Lucknow Super Giants. Chasing 228 at the Ekana Stadium, Jitesh smashed an unbeaten 85 off 33 balls and led RCB to a six-wicket win.
His third outing as RCB captain came against Punjab Kings on May 17, 2026, after Rajat Patidar was ruled out with an injury. Before that game, Jitesh had won one and lost one as RCB skipper, giving him a 50 percent win rate for the franchise.
Jitesh Sharma Also Led Punjab Kings And India A
The first time Jitesh took up the mantle of an IPL captaincy was with the Punjab Kings in 2024. He captained his team against Sunrisers Hyderabad on May 19. His PBKS suffered a loss in that game, which made his IPL captaincy record four games, one win, and three losses. Thus far, his IPL captaincy win percentage stands at 25%.
Outside the IPL, he has led India A team during the Rising Stars T20 Emerging Teams Asia Cup, where India A reached the semi-final only to lose against Bangladesh A in a Super Over. He also led Vidarbha team in the 2024 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. In that tournament, under his captaincy, Vidarbha won four out of six matches and registered a 66.67% win percentage in domestic T20 cricket. Overall, across major professional tours, he has been a captain of ten games with five wins and five losses each.
The Effectiveness Of Jitesh Sharma as IPL Captain
Sharmaโs figures as a captain are not impressive; however, it does not give his true performance. He is an aggressive player who loves to play fast cricket. As a wicket keeper, he is constantly engaged in action and able to respond promptly to any situation arising during the course of the match. It helps him make appropriate changes while bowling.
Also, Sharmaโs undefeated 85 runs against the Lucknow Super Giants indicate that he is capable of performing well under immense pressure as a leader. Equally important, Sharma can count on veteran players like Virat Kohli for help. It means that he is able to captain freely using their experience when required.
