Watch: Jitesh Sharma sprints to his right and takes a brilliant catch — Sai Sudharsan's IPL 2026 final ends for just 12
Jitesh Sharma produced a brilliant piece of wicketkeeping to dismiss Sai Sudharsan for just 12 runs in the IPL 2026 final between RCB and Gujarat Titans. The stunning catch quickly went viral on social media, with fans praising Jitesh's awareness and athleticism behind the stumps.
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RCB captain Rajat Patidar won the toss and elected to field first against the Gujarat Titans in the IPL 2026 Final on Sunday. The defending champions made the perfect start with the ball, putting Gujarat under pressure early in the innings at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.
Batting first, the Gujarat Titans found themselves in trouble after losing four wickets for 98 runs. The hosts suffered an early blow when captain Shubman Gill was dismissed for just 10 runs in the third over. Soon after, they lost fellow opener Sai Sudharsan for 12 runs as Bhuvneshwar Kumar struck another crucial blow for RCB.
Sudharsan's dismissal produced a brilliant moment in the field. He hit the ball high into the air, and wicketkeeper Jitesh Sharma calmly moved to his right before completing an excellent catch. The wicket quickly went viral on social media, with fans praising Jitesh's superb effort behind the stumps and celebrating another important breakthrough for RCB.
Watch the viral video here:
Bhuvneshwar's bouncer trap strikes twice — GT's orange cap hero falls for a run-a-ball 12 in the powerplay
Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s sharp use of the bouncer once again proved effective as he dismissed Sai Sudharsan cheaply in the IPL 2026 final. The GT batter, who has been their most consistent performer throughout the season, could only manage 12 runs off a run-a-ball before falling in the powerplay. It was a key early breakthrough for RCB in a high-pressure match.
Interestingly, this was not the first time Bhuvneshwar had troubled Sudharsan with a similar plan. Earlier in IPL 2026, during the April 30 clash, he had used a bouncer strategy that led to the same result, with Sudharsan getting caught by Jitesh Sharma. Once again in the final, the experienced pacer stuck to his plan and executed it perfectly.
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In the final, Bhuvneshwar bowled a well-directed short ball that forced Sudharsan into an awkward shot. The batter attempted to pull but did not fully commit, resulting in a top edge that went towards short fine leg. Jitesh Sharma moved quickly to his right and completed a superb running catch, giving RCB a strong start and leaving the Gujarat Titans under early pressure.
Both GT Openers gone inside 5 overs — How RCB's pace battery dismantled the most-feared opening partnership in IPL 2026
Both Gujarat Titans openers were sent back inside the first four overs as Royal Challengers Bengaluru made a blazing start in the IPL 2026 final. Sai Sudharsan fell early for 12 runs, while skipper Shubman Gill also failed to convert his start and was dismissed for 10 runs.
Gill’s wicket came off Josh Hazlewood’s bowling when he mistimed a short ball and offered a simple catch to RCB captain Rajat Patidar. It was a crucial breakthrough in the powerplay, as RCB’s disciplined pace attack completely disrupted GT’s top order and built early pressure.
With both openers gone cheaply, the Gujarat Titans were forced onto the back foot very early in the innings. The early double strike allowed RCB to dominate the powerplay and set the tone for their strong performance in the IPL 2026 final.
The keeper who does more than keep — Jitesh Sharma's running catch proves RCB's brilliance goes beyond their bowlers
Jitesh Sharma once again showed why he is more than just a wicketkeeper, producing a crucial moment in the IPL 2026 final. His sharp awareness behind the stumps and quick movement in the field added extra value to RCB’s already strong bowling effort. The dismissal he helped complete played a key role in keeping the Gujarat Titans under pressure early in the match.
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The standout moment came when the Indian Keeper-batter sprinted to his right and completed a brilliant running catch to dismiss Sai Sudharsan. The GT batter, who had looked in good touch, mistimed his shot off Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s bowling and offered a tough chance. Jitesh judged it perfectly and held on cleanly, giving RCB another important breakthrough in the powerplay.
Jitesh Sharma IPL 2026 wicketkeeping stats at a glance:
| Player | Matches | Innings | Total Dismissals | Catches (WK) | Stumpings | Dismissals per Innings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jitesh Sharma | 16 | 16 | 17 | 15 | 2 | 1.062 |
The catch highlighted RCB’s all-round discipline in the final, where every player contributed beyond their primary role. Jitesh’s effort summed up the team’s intensity and focus on the big stage. While the bowlers did the damage upfront, it was moments like these that showed RCB’s brilliance went well beyond just their pace attack.
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