When I was down emotionally, Dinesh Karthik told me to take a break, says Jitesh Sharma

Royal Challengers Bengaluru vice-captain Jitesh Sharma thanked former India wicketkeeper Dinesh Karthik for helping him during an emotionally difficult phase where he took some time off from the game after his father’s demise.

Jitesh said Karthik encouraged him to step away briefly and recover emotionally after his father passed away in February this year.

“DK anna asked me to take a break, put the bat away for a while and spend time with my family and friends. That helped me reset,” Jitesh said in a RCB podcast.

Jitesh had spoken extensively to PTI last month about how priorities changed in his life briefly after his father’s passing and that he was able to spend the last few days by his bed-side.

Jitesh had played a massive role in RCB’s maiden IPL triumph last year during which Karthik had also contributed as a batting coach and mentor.

“A lot of the credit for my growth goes to DK ‘anna’. He helped me understand my game better, use my strengths properly and improve mentally,” he said.

On returning to the RCB set-up after a difficult phase, Jitesh said entering the M Chinnaswamy Stadium had a healing effect on him.