Jitesh Sharma Leaves Vidarbha To Represent Baroda In 2025/26 Season Along With His RCB Teammate
Farokh Dastoor, CEO of the Vidarbha Cricket Association (VCA), confirmed to IANS on Wednesday that they have issued the NOC to Jitesh, who was an integral member of the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) team winning IPL 2025.
'Jitesh has enjoyed a close friendship with Krunal Pandya, his RCB teammate during the side's first IPL win in June. With him not having played Ranji Trophy last season and Pandya aiming to make a Baroda team which can win a domestic title in the upcoming season, it all came together for Jitesh to leave Vidarbha,' said sources aware of the development to IANS.
The first murmurs of Jitesh leaving Vidarbha ahead of the domestic season came to light when he touched the pitch at VCA Stadium Nagpur and signalled 'it's over' with his hands in a post-match gesture caught by broadcasters DD Sports after leading his team Neco Master Blaster to winning the Vidarbha Pro T20 League final with a seven-wicket victory over Pagariya Strikers.
In the last domestic season, Jitesh captained Vidarbha in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT) competition and played under Karun Nair's leadership in the Vijay Hazare Trophy (VHT). A move to Baroda means Jitesh will be able to play both white ball and red ball formats, where he's played only 18 first-class games since making his longer format debut in 2015/16.
For RCB in IPL 2025, Jitesh played key knocks as a finisher, including hitting an unbeaten 85 in a must-win against Lucknow Super Giants and helping RCB finish in the top two of the points table. He also served as RCB's captain when Rajat Patidar suffered a finger injury towards the back end of the competition.
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India Today
an hour ago
- India Today
Sai Sudharsan shows promise, but needs to solve his leg-side Achilles heel
We all know the story of the mighty Achilles. The Greek mythology character was known as one of the bravest and strongest warriors, seemingly unstoppable and without weaknesses. As the story goes, his mother, Thetis, decided to make Achilles immortal by dipping him in the River Styx. However, she held him by the heel, leaving that one spot eventually, became his downfall. Paris, guided by Apollo, struck an arrow to his heel and ended the life of the invincible when you look at how Sai Sudharsan has burst onto the Indian cricket scene, there seem to be some parallels with that of a brave warrior. Despite not having the most impressive first-class record — 1987 runs from 30 matches — it was in the IPL that the Tamil Nadu batter made a name for himself. Not known to be a big-hitter or slogger, the 23-year-old relied on timing and elegant strokeplay to make his mark. The IPL 2025 season showcased the best of Sudharsan, as he amassed 759 runs in 15 matches and walked away with the Orange Cap. Before this, he impressed on the India A tour to Australia, scoring a hundred in one of the unofficial Tests — triggering louder calls for his inclusion in the Test Read: Manchester Test: India's gritty start undone after nasty injury to Rishabh PantThen came the moment Sudharsan and everyone had been waiting for. He was brought in as the new No.3 for India in the Headingley Test. And in the most anti-climactic fashion, the southpaw was dismissed for a duck in his first-ever Test innings. It wasn't an unplayable delivery — just a harmless ball down the leg side, which he he managed 30 in the second innings, the Tamil Nadu batter was dropped and had to wait until the Manchester Test for another chance. England, however, had found a plan — they kept targeting him with short-pitched deliveries and balls down the leg side, which seemed to bring about his vs ENG, 4th Test: Day 1 UpdatesFor someone of Sudharsan's immense talent, this appears to be his Achilles heel — a weakness that he must address. The youngster himself spoke about it after the day's play and, with a smile, admitted:"The honest answer would be I didn't know how I edged it down the leg. But yeah, this England team, we know they are trying to do it quite often to a lot of batters and probably even this side as well. Even wide outside, they give a half-volley to make us drive, or down the leg, they will try to make us commit a mistake."advertisement"I was a bit aware when coming into this game, but it helped," said said, this takes nothing away from the innings the 23-year-old played. He produced a sublime knock full of elegant moments and exquisite shots. His 61 off 151 balls was a masterclass and a reminder of why he belongs at this once again, it was one pull shot too many that led to his dismissal — Ben Stokes got the better of what does Sudharsan need to do?Curb your natural tendencyTest cricket often demands restraint — unless you're Rishabh Pant, most players need to hold back and play each ball on merit. Sudharsan is naturally an attacking player, though his calm demeanour might mask that so far in his Test dismissals, Sudharsan has looked a little too eager to get runs, resulting in soft dismissals. Cheteshwar Pujara, speaking to broadcasters, pointed out how the pull shot seems like a compulsory stroke for Sudharsan — something he'll need to resist, especially in overseas a negative part is that he plays that full shot compulsorily sometimes. I mean, he has been leaving the ball, he will have to realise that, in overseas conditions, that's a risky shot. It's his scoring opportunity, but when to play and when not to play. Look at the situation the team is in, and that's when you make that decision. It is an instinctive shot, but sometimes you need to curb your instincts, and he has been able to do that. So there are more positives for him because he has got runs now, he has been defending well, and he has been leaving the ball well. So there are more positives when you spend enough time at the crease.""This is the shot which we has to work a bit more because England team is quite used to using that strategy of short pitch deliveries and that's where he will have to improve. He realised that he shouldn't have done that. He should have been under a bit more control, and that's the shot which you can't control all the time. So when do you play that and when you don't need to, that's, that is something that you have to learn," said Sudharsan attempts to pull Ben Stokes but is cramped for room and top-edges to Brydon Carse at long leg.235-4 England Cricket (@englandcricket) July 23, 2025advertisementSudharsan Shows PromiseAs mentioned earlier, despite this one flaw, Sudharsan has immense promise. Pujara noted how well he left the ball and how calm and composed he looked at the crease — all good signs for someone batting at No.3 for was especially impressed by the way Sudharsan handled pressure — a critical trait for a long-term Test batter."I've seen him in first-class cricket. That's how he bats. He is an attacking player, but today he was taking the right balls to hit. He runs well within the wicket. That is a big positive for him, but the way he drives, the way he plays his shots, which was very impressive to see.""But at the same time handling that pressure because when you just played one Test match and then you are getting an opportunity to bat again in English conditions, that's the toughest time. Because even if you are playing on a flat pitch, and he wasn't playing on a flat pitch, but even if you're playing on a flat pitch, then that pressure is always building on you. But he has shown that he can handle the pressure. He can stay composed and he was batting like how he bats in first-class cricket. That's a big positive," said for Sudharsan, the talent and skill are there for everyone to see. The only concern is that small flaw — the figurative Achilles heel. One that must be corrected quickly, before oppositions start aiming for it every single time.- EndsMust Watch
Time of India
7 hours ago
- Time of India
Cabinet to discuss stadium stampede report today; KSCA, police and organisers likely to face heat
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Indian Express
8 hours ago
- Indian Express
Day 1, Old Trafford: How Rishabh Pant's toe injury gave England a leg in the door
As Rishabh Pant sat on the golf-cart turned ambulance with a swollen right foot, a question loomed over Old Trafford, along with the dark clouds. How will India tread through the final hour of play on Day 1? The score at that point was 213/3, the honours were even. But with the most consistent Indian batsman on the tour gone, England captain Ben Stokes saw this as an opportunity to get his leg in the door. He did very soon. Six overs later the last of India's specialist, Sai Sudharsan pulled a short ball from Stokes into the hands of fine-leg. The cat and mouse contest for the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy continues. India had a foot ahead till Pant was hit flush on his right toe by England's hero of the day Chris Woakes. At stumps, India would finish at 264/4. On crease were the two all-rounders Ravindra Jadeja and Shardul Thakur. Both were on 19, both looking comfortable against the tired England attack. This was a hard day's work for both the batsmen and bowlers. Once again the most-repeated 'end of the day' summation on this series—the first hour tomorrow would be crucial—echoed around the storied ground. This game too has the opening of a gripping drama. The pitch is no sleeping beauty, this is no batting paradise, the spinners are getting turn, pacers the bounce. The 'Theatre of Dreams', the home of footballers that has the same name, is round the corner. But cricket's Old Trafford too might throw up a game of gravitas. On the very first day, a fairytale almost unfolded. Sudharsan getting into the playing XI here wasn't a popular decision. Experts have believed that he shouldn't have replaced Karun Nair, who should have been given one more game. But those in the know say that it was captain Shubman Gill who backed Sudharsan. No one has seen India's new No.3 as closely as Shubman. They are opening partners at Gujarat Titans. The two have spent long hours on the field and months together during the IPL. Familiarity doesn't always breed contempt, it also can generate awe. Once during the IPL, Shubman had spoken about Sudharsan's special talent. 'It's easy to swing freely on good cement wickets, but real skill lies in reading conditions, assessing the situation.' The coaches at GT also talk about the potential of the star batsman who plays even IPL like Tests. Assistant coach Nadeem Amin, talking to this paper about Shubman, had diverted the topic towards the other GT opener. That was during the Lord's Test. 'He may be out now but look out for the boy, his appetite for runs is as much as Shubman. Just wait till he gets a game.' So when he got the game, the initiation was relatively easy. Openers KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal had put on 94 runs and the English pace bowlers had lost the first hour to India. Sudharsan too looked like he was going to make this opportunity count. In the first innings of the only Test he had played in England at Headingley, Sudharsan got out edging an angled ball on the leg-stump to the wicket-keeper. Stokes doesn't usually forget such weak spots in his rivals. So he immediately went round-the-wicket to the left-hander and bowl from the corner of the crease. The ploy almost worked, Sudharsan edged a ball but the wicket-keeper Jamie Smith failed to grab it. This was the lucky break the batsman returning to the team wanted. A big part of Sudharsan's batting is his wrists. There is a tiny bit of Virat Kohli in his drives. He rolls his wrists over the ball, like a competent table-tennis player hitting a top-spinner. He is also quick to jump on balls that are marginally short as he crouches and slaps them to square leg. This too isn't a straight tight slap but more of a subtle pat, again with the help of his wrists. Sudharsan's county stint also prepared him to negotiate the English conditions, the kind India encountered for the first time on this tour. In the few games he played for Surrey, the left-hander learned to relax and give importance to the technical aspects of the game. 'As a batsman, when you are juggling between formats, I believe only the mindset should change, not your game … There is a big shift tactically. When I go to England, I have to leave a lot more balls than I usually do,' he had told The Indian Express. It is the wrists that manipulate the ball into the gaps, making it difficult for the captain to set a field. When he was in the company of Pant, another batsman with a knack of hitting the ball in unguarded areas, it seemed England were in trouble. The two were toying with the bowlers, India seemed set for a long partnership. England were losing the grip and then came the twist. Pant got carried away and to a smartly bowled slow yorker, he attempted a predetermined reverse sweep. He was beaten by the pace and trajectory. He missed the ball and it hit him on the toe. There were worried faces in the Indian dressing room as the pain on Pant's face hinted at the seriousness of the injury. By late evening the word from the Indian camp was that Pant had gone for scans and the BCCI medical team was 'monitoring his progress'. India's key player's left finger hadn't yet fully healed and now he gets a blow on his right foot. A bigger question looms: How will India limp on the last leg of this tough tour if Pant is ruled out of the series?
