Popular franchise Royal Challengers Bengaluru&nbsp;(RCB) signed Jitesh Sharma for INR 11 crore in the <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/t20/ipl-indian-premier-league/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">IPL 2025</a> mega-auction. The keeper-batter played 40 matches in the cash-rich league, scoring 730 runs at a strike rate of 151.13. He was brilliant for Punjab Kings in the 2023 edition of the competition, scoring 309 in 14 games and following which, Jitesh was also called up for the national team. However, he failed to establish his authority in international cricket, having scored only 100 runs in nine games.
The 2024 edition of the IPL didn’t go well for him either. The 31-year-old made 187 runs in 14 matches and after which, Punjab decided to release the cricketer. Despite that, Lucknow Super Giants and Chennai Super Kings started the bidding war in the auction to acquire the service of Jitesh. Later, Delhi Capitals joined as well. Ultimately, RCB won the bidding war by offering INR 7 crore. That’s when Punjab Kings (PBKS) decided to use their Right To Match (RTM) card. After which RCB bid INR 11 crore but PBKS refused.
Jitesh would have been a good buy for INR 7 crore but INR 11 crore looks slightly expensive given how the cricketer has fared in recent times. On top of that, RCB had the option of Phil Salt as keeper and they didn’t need Jitesh as such. Instead of him, the franchise should have targeted these players.
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<h3>Here are 3 players who could have been a better Jitesh Sharma alternate for RCB:</h3>
<h3>3. KL Rahul</h3>
<figure class="image align-center"><img src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/1714926876559_KL-Rahul.jpeg" alt="KL Rahul" loading="lazy">
<figcaption>KL Rahul. (Source -IPL/BCCI)</figcaption>
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Delhi Capitals bought&nbsp;<a href="https://www.crictracker.com/cricket-players/kl-rahul/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">KL Rahul</a> for INR 14 crore. It is higher than what RCB paid for Jitesh but the franchise could have planned accordingly. Their top order looks stacked and Jitesh in the middle would have made more sense but RCB could have bought Rahul and paired him with Phil Salt at the top of the order. Virat Kohli could have batted at 3, followed by Rajat Patidar, Liam Livingstone, Tim David and Krunal Pandya.
They didn’t need Jitesh as the middle order is already stacked with power-hitters. Instead, Rahul is someone who could have given more stability at the top of the order and it would have also released pressure off Virat Kohli, who is reported to lead the team in the upcoming edition of the IPL. Bengaluru missed a trick there and ended up overspending on Jitesh. They could have signed another Indian keeper-batter as a backup option.

<h3>2. Ishan Kishan</h3>
<figure class="image align-center"><img src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/1715450831796_Ishan-Kishan.jpeg" alt="Ishan Kishan" loading="lazy">
<figcaption>Ishan Kishan. (Source -IPL/BCCI)</figcaption>
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The formula would have been the same as KL Rahul's. Salt and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.crictracker.com/cricket-players/ishan-kishan/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ishan Kishan</a> could have formed a deadly combination at the top of the order, followed by Kohli at number three. Kishan was bought for INR 11.25 crore in the auction, and RCB could have pushed to get him onboard as the keeper-batter is a serial match-winner in the shortest format.
Also Check-&nbsp;<a href="https://www.crictracker.com/cricket-appeal/ipl-2025-auction-5-players-who-deserved-higher-bids-9932/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">IPL 2025 Auction: 5 players who deserved higher bids</a>
Instead, the franchise didn’t place any bid to acquire the service of Kishan. He has played 105 matches in the IPL and scored 2,644 runs at a strike rate of 135.86. Mumbai Indians and Punjab Kings started the bidding war, however, Delhi Capitals joined the race before Sunrisers Hyderabad placed the winning bid. Notably, Kishan could have been a long-term asset for RCB but the franchise missed out on the opportunity.

<h3>1. Ashutosh Sharma</h3>
<figure class="image align-center"><img src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/1713024540081_Ashutosh-Sharma.jpeg" alt="Ashutosh Sharma" loading="lazy">
<figcaption>Ashutosh Sharma. (Source -IPL/BCCI)</figcaption>
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<a href="https://www.crictracker.com/cricket-players/ashutosh-sharma/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ashutosh Sharma</a> had a better season in 2024 in comparison with Jitesh. The 26-year-old wreaked havoc in the middle order, scoring 189 runs in 11 games at a strike rate of 167.25. He was heavily impactful and was one of the biggest reasons behind the Punjab Kings’ rise in ranking in the last edition. Despite so PBKS didn’t retain Ashutosh and Delhi Capitals used the opportunity to sign the player for INR 3.80 crore.
Also Check- <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/cricket-appeal/ipl-2025-3-teams-that-overspent-on-players-in-auction/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">IPL 2025: 3 teams that overspent on players in auction</a>
If the goal was to sign a pinch-hitter, Ashutosh could have been a better option as the player would have saved RCB plenty of money. There are other foreign options as well but RCB decided against it and showed immense faith in Jitesh by signing him for a hefty sum.

Popular franchise Royal Challengers Bengaluru&nbsp;(RCB) signed Jitesh Sharma for INR 11 crore in the IPL 2025 mega-auction. The keeper-batter played 40 matches in the cash-rich league, scoring 730 ru

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