IPL 2025: 3 Players RCB could have targeted over Jitesh Sharma at mega auction

Popular franchise Royal Challengers Bengaluru (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 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.

Here are 3 players who could have been a better Jitesh Sharma alternate for RCB:

3. KL Rahul

Delhi Capitals bought KL Rahul 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.