• Home
  • Who Said What
  • Legends Motivated Me Jitesh Sharma Reveals Kohli Karthik Boost Behind Ekana Heroics

"Legends Motivated Me" Jitesh Sharma Reveals Kohli-Karthik Boost Behind Ekana Heroics

Soumyajit Dutta

Virat Kohli hugging Jitesh Sharma [Source: @CricCrazyJohns/X]Virat Kohli hugging Jitesh Sharma [Source: @CricCrazyJohns/X]

Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) pulled off the highest successful run-chase of IPL season 18, hunting down Lucknow Super Giants’ 228 with eight balls to spare in a final group-stage clash on Tuesday. Stand-in captain Jitesh Sharma spearheaded the chase with an unbeaten 85 off 33 balls after RCB stumbled to 123/4 in the 12th over following Virat Kohli’s dismissal. 

Jitesh Sharma, later, admitted to battling nerves and physical exhaustion during his match-winning innings, calling the knock “unbelievable” in the post-match presentation.

Jitesh Sharma credits Karthik, Kohli for unbelievable innings

Jitesh spoke his heart out in the post-match presentation revealing his motivation behind the historic finish that turned the tides in RCB's favour.

“Words can’t describe how I’m feeling. When Virat bhai got out, my only focus was to take the game deep, just like my mentor Dinesh [Karthik] anna always advises,” said Sharma, referencing his strategic patience after Kohli’s departure in the 12th over.

The 17th over nearly derailed his heroics. Sharma survived a caught dismissal off a no-ball by Digvesh, followed by a close run-out reprieve after Lucknow captain Rishabh Pant withdrew his appeal. Between the drama, Sharma hammered a six to notch his fifty.

 “I started cramping up because the pressure was immense, but having legends like Virat bhai and Krunal bhai around kept me motivated,” Jiteshdadded.

Sharma also confirmed pacer Josh Hazlewood’s likely return for the playoffs after a shoulder injury. “Hazlewood should be back for the knockout," Jitesh said.

For the unaware, Sharma partnered with Mayank Agarwal in an unbroken 107-run stand, propelling the team to a record victory and maintaining their perfect away record, a first in IPL history. 

The win secured RCB a top-two finish for the first time since 2016, setting up a Qualifier 1 clash against Punjab Kings on Thursday. With this win, RCB now eye their maiden IPL title, riding a seven-match winning streak.