"It doesn't add any pressure.." Jitesh Sharma has his say on joining RCB for 11 crores

Jitesh Sharma has played 40 games in his IPL career.

Jitesh Sharma made headlines during the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 mega auction, joining the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) for a whopping INR 11 crores.

The wicket-keeper batter, who was part of the Punjab Kings (PBKS) franchise last year, saw a dramatic salary increase from INR 20 lakhs to INR 11 crores. Jitesh has been a standout performer in T20 format for the last few years, maintaining an excellent strike rate of 151.

RCB, who were on the lookout for a replacement for veteran wicket-keeper Dinesh Karthik, went all out to acquire Jitesh. PBKS exercised their Right to Match (RTM) card for the Indian wicket-keeper batter at ₹7 crores, but RCB then outbid them with an offer ₹11 crores to secure his services.

Jitesh even captained PBKS in some games last season in the absence of Shikhar Dhawan and Sam Curran. The right-hander has recently shared his thoughts on joining RCB at a hefty price.

Jitesh Sharma on joining RCB for 11 crores

During an exclusive interview with the Times of India, Jitesh Sharma dismissed the notion of pressure that comes with a heavy price tag. The Indian wicket-keeper emphasized that he views it as an extra motivation to perform better.

Jitesh said, “Whatever price is on my head, it does not matter to me. I just want to play cricket, that’s it. It doesn’t add any pressure; it gives me a challenge and a thrill. It has given me confidence more than pressure, knowing that I am worth ₹11 crore. The fact that RCB has shown faith in me makes me confident and excited to play,”

The 31-year-old also spoke about the electrifying atmosphere created by RCB fans.

He continued, “I am very excited to play in front of the fans because, right now, I am in Vizag, and I can see the loyalty and craziness of the fans towards RCB. When I go to bat, I see fans shouting, ‘RCB, RCB, RCB!’ I can feel their enthusiasm, madness, and loyalty towards RCB. It will be fun, and I am very excited and thrilled to play in front of them.”

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