“Kyu Pareshaan Karu?” Jitesh Sharma On Sharing An RCB Dressing Room With Virat Kohli

Jitesh Sharma has spoken candidly about life inside Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s title‑winning dressing room, and what it was like sharing space with Virat Kohli. The wicketkeeper‑batter, who joined RCB for IPL 2025 and played a pivotal finisher’s role, said he was taught to respect seniors and not intrude on personal space—hence the line, “Kyu pareshaan karu?” when asked why he didn’t try to be overly familiar with Kohli. Their chats, he added, stayed focused on cricket.

Jitesh explained that coming from a small town shaped his values around hierarchy and respect. For him, simply speaking to Kohli was a big deal; pushing beyond cricket talk felt unnecessary. He preferred meaningful, concise conversations—often about situations, plans, and reading bowlers—while keeping an intentional distance off the field. The approach, he said, helped him stay clear‑headed during a high‑pressure season in which RCB finally lifted their first IPL trophy.

The 31‑year‑old also highlighted the impact of Dinesh Karthik, who moved into a batting‑coach/mentor role at RCB. Jitesh credited Karthik for emphasising strengths rather than nit‑picking weaknesses, and for injecting belief that translated into clutch performances at the death. He called Karthik “an elder brother,” someone whose guidance he follows “without asking questions,” and said that trust pushed him to give “100 per cent” every time he walked out.

On the field, Jitesh repaid that faith. Used primarily at No. 6/7, he struck at elite pace in tight finishes, delivered momentum‑changing cameos, and complemented Kohli’s tempo from the top. The balance worked: Kohli anchored and surged, Jitesh detonated at the back end, and RCB stitched together a title run with defined roles. For Jitesh, the season capped a personal vision—he had written down a goal to lift the trophy with Kohli on one side and Karthik on the other, a moment he later shared as “power of manifestation.”

The takeaway from Jitesh’s reflections is simple but telling. A respectful distance didn’t mean detachment; it meant clarity. It left room for focused cricket conversations with Kohli, open trust with Karthik, and a calm execution lane for Jitesh himself. In a high‑profile environment, that mix of humility, intent, and role clarity can be the difference between blending in and making an impact.