Jitesh Sharma’s Record 5400% Salary Hike at IPL 2025 Mega Auction
The IPL 2025 Mega Auction was thrilling. It had a rich history and shocking deals as franchises fought to sign their top targets. Among the highlights, India wicket-keeper batter Jitesh Sharma grabbed headlines. He got a 5400% salary hike, the highest in IPL history. RCB picked Sharma for a whopping INR 11 crore. His previous salary with Punjab Kings was INR 20 lakh.
IPL 2025: Record-Breaking Auction
This year’s auction saw 21 players earning over INR 10 crore. Rishabh Pant became the most expensive player in the league’s history. Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) signed Pant for INR 27 crore. Punjab Kings signed Shreyas Iyer for INR 26.75 crore. However, it was Jitesh Sharma’s meteoric rise that became the talk of the cricketing world.
The Bidding War for Jitesh Sharma
Jitesh Sharma’s T20 batting made him a hot property at the auction. Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) wanted him. Then, Delhi Capitals (DC) joined the bidding. After LSG and DC withdrew, CSK placed a strong final bid of INR 6.75 crore. However, RCB joined the race, offering INR 7 crore. Punjab Kings tried to keep Jitesh using their RTM card. But, they couldn’t match RCB’s final bid of INR 11 crore.
This acquisition was a big win for RCB. They now add Jitesh to their star-studded squad, which includes Virat Kohli. He is likely to return as captain.
Jitesh Sharma’s Career in Numbers
Jitesh Sharma has been a consistent performer in domestic and franchise cricket. Across 123 T20 matches, he has scored 2,566 runs at an impressive strike rate of 149.09. His ability to excel under pressure made him a top auction target.
Jitesh was with the Mumbai Indians (MI) in 2017, their title-winning season. But, he didn’t play a match for the franchise. His IPL journey began with Punjab Kings. There, he showed his great potential.
Final Thoughts
The IPL 2025 Mega Auction showed, once again, the league’s power to change careers and set new records. For Jitesh Sharma, his 5400% salary hike symbolizes his rise as one of India’s brightest T20 prospects. Fans eagerly await to see how this investment will pay off for RCB as the season unfolds.
