IPL winner Jitesh set to leave Vidarbha, move base to Baroda
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Nagpur: After playing a key role in RCB's IPL triumph a month back,
Jitesh Sharma
is set to leave Vidarbha. Sources said that the big-hitting wicketkeeper-batter, who justified his Rs11 crore price tag with a string of stellar shows, will play for Baroda in the next domestic season.
A source informed that Vidarbha Cricket Association (VCA) on Friday received a request for a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from Jitesh. A player has to obtain a NOC from his home association for shifting base to a new team. Baroda Cricket Association (BCA) officials confirmed that Jitesh will be joining their team in the next season.
After making his First Class debut for Vidarbha in October 2015, Jitesh got just 18 matches in the longer format in the last one decade.
Many feel he is a much better player than the number of First Class matches he got to play for Vidarbha.
"Same was the case with his leadership quality. Vidarbha never fully utilised his captaincy skills. It was only after his exploits in the IPL, first for Kings Punjab and RCB in the last edition, that he has finally managed to command respect — which he always deserved — within the Vidarbha setup," a source said.
Punjab Kings were the first to appoint Jitesh as vice captain and then captain in 2024 IPL.
Before that Jitesh never got any leadership role in Vidarbha's senior cricket. Post the IPL, Jitesh led Vidarbha in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and took the team to quarterfinal stage. In Vidarbha's next tournament, Vijay Hazare Trophy, he played under Karun Nair.
SARWATE TO PLAY FOR CHHATTISGARH
Former Vidarbha allrounder Aditya Sarwate, who played for Kerala last season, confirmed that he will move to Chhattisgarh for the upcoming season.
The left-arm spinner and solid lower-order batter said that due to family commitments he wanted to move to a team based near Nagpur.
"My move to Chhattisgarh has been finalised. I look forward to the new challenge after a fruitful outing with Kerala," Sarawate told TOI. Sarwate's allround performance had propelled Vidarbha to twin Ranji Trophy titles in the 2017-18 and 2018-19 seasons.
Last year, Sarwate was one of the standout performers for Kerala as they made it to their first Ranji Trophy final. The title clash, played at Nagpur, saw Vidarbha clinch their third Ranji Trophy on the basis of first innings lead. Sarwate had snapped 40 wickets in his first and only season for Kerala.
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1 2 3 4 Nagpur: After playing a key role in RCB's IPL triumph a month back, Jitesh Sharma is set to leave Vidarbha. Sources said that the big-hitting wicketkeeper-batter, who justified his Rs11 crore price tag with a string of stellar shows, will play for Baroda in the next domestic season. A source informed that Vidarbha Cricket Association (VCA) on Friday received a request for a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from Jitesh. A player has to obtain a NOC from his home association for shifting base to a new team. Baroda Cricket Association (BCA) officials confirmed that Jitesh will be joining their team in the next season. After making his First Class debut for Vidarbha in October 2015, Jitesh got just 18 matches in the longer format in the last one decade. Many feel he is a much better player than the number of First Class matches he got to play for Vidarbha. "Same was the case with his leadership quality. Vidarbha never fully utilised his captaincy skills. It was only after his exploits in the IPL, first for Kings Punjab and RCB in the last edition, that he has finally managed to command respect — which he always deserved — within the Vidarbha setup," a source said. Punjab Kings were the first to appoint Jitesh as vice captain and then captain in 2024 IPL. Before that Jitesh never got any leadership role in Vidarbha's senior cricket. Post the IPL, Jitesh led Vidarbha in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and took the team to quarterfinal stage. In Vidarbha's next tournament, Vijay Hazare Trophy, he played under Karun Nair. SARWATE TO PLAY FOR CHHATTISGARH Former Vidarbha allrounder Aditya Sarwate, who played for Kerala last season, confirmed that he will move to Chhattisgarh for the upcoming season. The left-arm spinner and solid lower-order batter said that due to family commitments he wanted to move to a team based near Nagpur. "My move to Chhattisgarh has been finalised. I look forward to the new challenge after a fruitful outing with Kerala," Sarawate told TOI. Sarwate's allround performance had propelled Vidarbha to twin Ranji Trophy titles in the 2017-18 and 2018-19 seasons. Last year, Sarwate was one of the standout performers for Kerala as they made it to their first Ranji Trophy final. The title clash, played at Nagpur, saw Vidarbha clinch their third Ranji Trophy on the basis of first innings lead. Sarwate had snapped 40 wickets in his first and only season for Kerala.
