Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) retained just three players ahead of the recent Indian Premier League (IPL 2025) auction and made a complete overhaul of the team in the hope of breaking the jinx and winning their first title.

In the process, the RCB management decided to give one of its new employees the highest pay hike ever seen in the history of IPL auctions. Batsman Jitesh Sharma got a staggering 5,500% salary hike, after being signed by RCB for INR 11 crore, which is 55 times more than his previous IPL salary of ₹ 20 lakh.

Previously, Jitesh Sharma plied his trade with the Punjab Kings, who acquired his services for his base price in the IPL 2022 mega auction and then retained him for the same price for the next two seasons.

ALSO READ: Did Mumbai Indians get their X-factor replacement for Tim David with a bid for an unknown 22-year-old in the IPL 2025 auction?

Jitesh Sharma will be crucial to RCB’s plans for IPL 2025

Jitesh’s career path has been remarkable. Since his IPL debut in 2022, he has consistently impressed. During two solid seasons with PBKS in 2022 and 2023, he maintained impressive strike rates of 163 and 156, respectively. Notably, he smashed 21 sixes during the 2023 season, earning him a place in the Indian T20I team as a wicketkeeper and finisher. He was also promoted to the position of vice-captain last season following the injury of regular captain Shikhar Dhawan.

Jitesh Sharma is a well-known name in the IPL and will be crucial to RCB’s plans in the upcoming season. Not only is he an experienced finisher with specific skills, but RCB also views him as a possible replacement for Dinesh Karthik.

The veteran cricketer announced his retirement outright last season after filling in as a finisher and wicketkeeper in the RCB team for the past few seasons.

For more updates, follow Cricxtasy on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Telegram and YouTube.