RCB player ditches domestic team for 2025-26 season to join this new side

The Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) wicket-keeper batter, Jitesh Sharma, will represent the Baroda side in the upcoming season of the domestic tournament. The 31-year-old didn’t feature in any games of the 2024-25 Ranji Trophy, playing the second fiddle to the captain and the first-choice wicket-keeper Akshay Wadkar. Jitesh, however, remained part of the white-ball squads under the captaincy of Karun Nair.

The wicket-keeper, Jitesh Sharma, batter had a fabulous season for the RCB side, playing a huge role in making the franchise champions for the very first time in the history of the Indian Premier League (IPL). The right-handed batter drilled 261 runs in 11 innings at an average of 37.28 and a strike rate of nearly 176, shouldering one half-century at the best score of unbeaten 85 runs.

Jitesh, who also played nine T20Is for India, earning 100 runs at a strike rate of 147.05, is likely to leave Vidarbha. The transfer to Baroda is likely to work in a few days with his close ties. Krunal Pandya, the Baroda captain, who was with the batter in RCB, is expected to help in the association.

RCB player Jitesh Sharma to play with Krunal Pandya in this domestic team

This shift could be a new chance for the lower-order batter to cement his place in the side as a regular first-class player. Since making his debut in the 2015-16 season, the Maharashtra-born has featured in only 18 red-ball domestic games over the past ten seasons. His average, as a result, is below 25 with four half-centuries as his most recent game in the Ranji Trophy came nearly 18 months ago.

Despite the limited opportunities in red-ball cricket, Jitesh has left a mark in the shortest format. His first breakthrough season during the IPL came in 2023, as he earned an India T20I cap during the Asian Games in October that year. His 85* during the recently concluded IPL 2025 came when the Bengaluru side was in a must-win position against the Lucknow Super Giants to claim the top two spots.

Even when Rajat Patidar was out of the side due to an injury, Jitesh displayed his leadership qualities. Along with him, his IPL teammate Swapnil Singh, is also set to move to Tripura. He recently turned up for the Chepauk Super Gillies in the Tamil Nadu Premier League 2025 and picked up three wickets in eight games, besides scoring 85 runs in eight fixtures.