Royal Challengers Bengaluru wicketkeeper-batter Jitesh Sharma has spoken openly about the impact Virat Kohli has on his teammates, saying that watching Kohli give his absolute best on the field ignites a spark in every player around him. Sharma made these remarks while reflecting on his two seasons at RCB, a period during which the franchise won back-to-back IPL titles in 2025 and 2026.
Jitesh was acquired by RCB for Rs 11 crore at the 2025 mega auction and was retained by the franchise ahead of the 2026 season. In the 2025 IPL, he scored 261 runs in 15 matches at a strike rate of over 176, including an unbeaten 85, and took 20 wicket-keeping dismissals. He followed that with 17 dismissals in the 2026 season as RCB claimed their second consecutive title.
Kohli was central to RCB’s batting in both campaigns, scoring 657 runs in the 2025 IPL and 675 runs in the 2026 edition. Jitesh described the effect Kohli’s visible hunger and effort have on those around him, noting that seeing a player who has achieved everything still sprint to stop a ball near the boundary forces every teammate to reflect on their own commitment.
What did Jitesh Sharma say about Virat Kohli’s influence on RCB players?
Jitesh’s comments capture how Kohli’s attitude on the field translates directly into motivation for his teammates. Rather than pointing to any specific match or moment, Jitesh described a broader pattern: Kohli’s refusal to ease off, even in situations where most players would accept the outcome, sets a standard that the rest of the dressing room measures itself against.
“There is something in this red and gold. When you see Virat going on the field, then a spark ignites in everyone, that you become a rockstar, and I am ready to rock. The very moment you see a person who has achieved everything and he’s still trying to catch that ball when he knows that the ball is about to reach to the ropes and he’s still giving his hundred percent and trying to stop that ball, that shows how hungry he is. And later on we see ourselves, Jitesh, that person is doing this, and you are standing there (so that gets me going too),” Jitesh said, speaking on the RCB Podcast.
Jitesh’s words reflect a dressing room culture that has produced two IPL titles under head coach Andy Flower and captain Rajat Patidar, with batting coach Dinesh Karthik also part of the support staff since 2025.
How does Jitesh Sharma view the pressure of expectations at RCB?
Beyond Kohli’s influence, Jitesh also addressed the weight of expectation that comes with playing for a high-profile franchise like RCB. Having been bought for a significant sum at auction and retained after a successful debut season, Jitesh acknowledged that public and team expectations are high, but he views that pressure as something to embrace rather than avoid.
“Now, this pressure is a privilege, I will say. I feel very grateful that people are expecting from me. So I take this pressure as a privilege because as a person, it helps me to grow as a player and as a human. That’s all I want to say, and keep putting pressure on me, keep expecting me. That’s all I say,” Jitesh said.
His performances across both seasons support that outlook. A strike rate of over 176 in the 2025 IPL, combined with consistent wicket-keeping contributions in both title-winning campaigns, underlines why RCB chose to retain him ahead of 2026.
