New Delhi, March 11 Jitesh Sharma experienced disappointment when he was excluded from India's T20 World Cup squad, but this now feels insignificant compared to the realization that he was able to spend his father's final days by his side.
The disappointment quickly faded in the face of a much greater loss. On February 1, his father, Mohan Sharma, passed away after a brief illness.
"When I heard about my non-selection, I felt a bit disheartened. I'm just a human being. I can feel sad and disappointed. But later, as time passed, those feelings became less significant," Jitesh told
The emotional weight of missing the global tournament soon gave way to a more personal challenge.
"But later, my father got sick. And he passed away on February 1st. So, I was with him for seven days. Afterward, I realized that he needed me more than the World Cup. After that, I didn't feel any sadness or regret. I'm simply grateful," he said, his voice filled with emotion.
"I'm grateful that I had the opportunity to spend seven days with my father. I was able to care for him, and I enjoyed watching the World Cup on TV at home. It's a very different experience. It gives you a sense of responsibility rather than just playing. And I was very happy for the boys."
With his father gone, the responsibility of being the eldest son has become a defining part of his life.
"I can't forget this. I don't want to forget it because he's no longer here. When you lose your father, after a few days, you realize that you're now responsible for making decisions for your family as the elder son," he said.
"And that's it – taking care of my mother, my brother, and my family. So, I'm someone who can't show my feelings to them and can't be weak in front of them because they're watching me play cricket. And I have to accept that," he said, reflecting on the challenges of life.
Grief, he admits, doesn't come all at once. It creeps in slowly, leaving behind a sense of incompleteness that he knows will remain for life.
"It comes after some time. I'm not coping with anything. I'm just accepting that my father is no longer here. There's a part of my heart that's empty now. It will remain empty until my death because of my father."
However, cricket has also taught him to carry on. Jitesh says he has learned to live with the sorrow while continuing to pursue his career.
"And I've learned to carry that sorrow and that emptiness during practice. Because no matter how much I want, I can't forget it. Because he's my father, right? He's my hero for my life."
"If he were alive today, he would have told me to go and practice. Don't worry about me," he said, adding that he often thinks about what his father would have told him. "I think he would have suggested that I go and play the game. And I'm very proud of that."
Jitesh also drew parallels with teammate Rinku Singh, saying he understands the emotional strength required to return to the field after personal setbacks.
"That's what Rinku must have felt. That's why he was able to come back on the field. And it's a very big thing," he said.
Why can't 3 keepers play together?
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On the cricketing front, Jitesh remains pragmatic about roles and combinations. With wicketkeeper-batters such as Sanju Samson and Ishan Kishan also in contention, he says he would happily adapt if it means finishing games for the team.
"I think of it from a different perspective. I take it from a different perspective – that by doing my job, why not two keepers be in the playing XI and the third play as a finisher? Exactly, that can also happen. Why not?"
I still can't match Virat bhai's intensity
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Jitesh also spoke about the inspiration he draws from observing Virat Kohli up close at Royal Challengers Bengaluru, admitting that matching the former India captain's intensity is easier said than done.
"Just observing small things, you can learn a lot. And it can be a life-turning decision or observation. Because the way he prepares, starts his day, not just practice, I think it's very impressive. Still, I'm 32 and I can't match his energy," he said.