Jitesh Sharma Reveals: "Numb and Heartbroken" After Shock T20 World Cup Exclusion
Wicketkeeper-batter Jitesh Sharma expresses initial shock and heartbreak over the omission and credits talks with Dinesh Karthik for moving forward.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru wicketkeeper-batter Jitesh Sharma has opened up about the emotional impact of being left out of India’s squad for the upcoming T20 World Cup, describing the moment as heartbreaking and difficult to process. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced the squad earlier this week, making several notable changes that included Jitesh’s omission.
India is widely regarded as having immense batting depth, but specialist finishers remain a limited resource in the national setup. Jitesh had emerged as a promising option in that role after consistent performances in domestic cricket and the Indian Premier League, earning selection in India’s T20I side. Despite this, he was not included in the World Cup roster, a decision that surprised many observers.
In an interview with CricTracker, Jitesh revealed that he had no prior communication from the selectors regarding his omission. He said he only became aware of the decision once the squad was officially announced, adding that the initial shock left him numb and unable to process the setback.
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Jitesh explained that clarity came later, after selection committee chairman Ajit Agarkar outlined the reasoning behind the squad composition. He said he agreed with the explanation provided in the selectors’ press conference and felt the rationale was fair after further discussions with the coaching staff and selectors.
The selection panel also made other high-profile calls, including leaving out Test and ODI captain Shubman Gill, while recalling players such as Rinku Singh and Ishan Kishan. Jitesh acknowledged that such decisions are part of the sport and said he sought guidance from former India and RCB wicketkeeper Dinesh Karthik to help him cope.
While the omission has made his immediate path back into the T20 setup more challenging, particularly with the selectors opting for an opening batter as wicketkeeper, Jitesh said he has accepted the decision. Emphasizing resilience, he noted that spending time with family and drawing on the support of senior players helped him move forward, keeping hope alive for future opportunities.
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