Kamal Ghorui
NEW DELHI: India wicketkeeper-batter Jitesh Sharma has sparked a stir with his candid remarks on Pakistan, delivering a blunt assessment of the arch-rivals while discussing the mental side of high-pressure clashes ahead of IPL 2026.Speaking on a podcast with Ranveer Allahbadia, the Royal Challengers Bengaluru finisher addressed whether Indian players get emotional when facing Pakistan. “Wahi control karne ki baat hai (That’s what we have to control),” he said, underlining the importance of composure in marquee encounters.
Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!However, it was his unfiltered take on how India now views Pakistan that grabbed attention. “Nahi, itna dete hi nahi importance unko. Itna dil pe aur dimaag pe lagate hi nahi hai (We don’t give them so much importance),” Jitesh said, drawing laughter during the conversation.He went a step further while comparing opposition sides, stating that teams like Australia and South Africa pose a bigger challenge. “South Africa, Australia are challenging teams because they play good cricket. Yeh log [Pakistan] cricket nahi khel rahe hai achcha,” he added.Playing without emotionJitesh also revealed the approach instilled by head coach Gautam Gambhir before big games against Pakistan. “We don’t have to play with emotion. Emotion se khelenge toh we might lose too. So, let’s win the game and phir uske baat jo expression karna hai karenge,” he said.The emphasis, he explained, is on staying level-headed during the game and letting performances do the talking before any celebrations.On-field moments and reactionsReflecting on an on-field moment, Jitesh spoke about mimicking Pakistan spinner Abrar Ahmed’s celebration alongside teammates Arshdeep Singh and Harshit Rana after an Asia Cup clash. “Isne Sanju bhai ko out karke aisa kiya. Toh woh cheez hum logon ko pasand nahi aayi toh, humne woh kiya (He did that after dismissing Sanju Samson, and we didn’t like it, so we gave it back),” he explained.As IPL 2026 begins, with Royal Challengers Bengaluru set to face Sunrisers Hyderabad in the opener, Jitesh’s remarks have already added spice to the build-up — offering a rare glimpse into how modern Indian players approach one of cricket’s most intense rivalries.
