"Losing a game is a very good sign": RCB captain Jitesh Sharma's bizarre statement

Jitesh Sharma-led Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RR) played their 13th match of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 against the Pat Cummins-led Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) on Friday, May 23.

Royal Challengers Bengaluru lost the Match Number 65 of IPL 2025 against the Sunrisers Hyderabad by 42 runs at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow.

Also Read: "Little bit too late this season": Pat Cummins angry after SRH crush RCB

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My bowlers did really well - Jitesh Sharma

Opting to bowl first, Royal Challengers Bengaluru did not have a good day. Romario Shepherd (2), Krunal Pandya (1), Suyash Sharma (1), Lungi Ngidi (1), and Bhuvneshwar Kumar (1) picked up wickets at regular intervals, but allowed SRH to post a huge score of 231/6.

Chasing the target, openers Virat Kohli (43) and Phil Salt (62) batted well and RCB were in control at 173/3, but the dismissal of Rajat Patidar triggered a collapse, and they got all out for 189.

Speaking after the match, RCB stand-in skipper Jitesh Sharma said that they gave away 15-20 extra runs, but was happy with the performance of his bowlers. Jitesh Sharma said:

"I think they scored 20-30 runs more. Their openers batted really well in the powerplay. The way they attacked in the powerplay, I think I don't have any answer for that attack. My bowlers did really well. I feel 15-20 runs extra was scored. The pitch was brilliant though."

I haven't met with him because I was upset - Jitesh Sharma on Tim David's injury

Jitesh Sharma opined that RCB players were a little rusty in the match and said that he is unaware of how serious is the injury picked up by Tim David is. He said:

"I think so. We were rusty. I think that intensity was not there initially. 6-7 overs we were in the mark, we bowled really well in the death. It's good to lose this game I think. (On Tim David's injury) Right now, I haven't met with him because I was upset as I got out. I haven't met him yet."

In the end, Jitesh Sharma dropped a bizarre statement, saying that 'losing a game is a very good sign'. He elaborated:

"Yes sir. I think sometimes losing a game is a very good sign because you can analyze it afterwards. If you keep winning, you don't look at the mistakes as you go with the flow. Everyone chipped in with the bat and ball. Rajat made a comeback today. We will go back to the drawing board and rectify our mistakes."

RCB emerged victorious in the previous IPL clash over SRH

Royal Challengers Bengaluru delivered a great performance to defeat Sunrisers Hyderabad by 35 runs in their previous IPL fixture on April 25, 2024, in Hyderabad.

Opting to bat first, RCB posted a huge total of 206/7, thanks to brilliant contributions from Rajat Patidar, Virat Kohli, and Cameron Green.

Opener Faf du Plessis started off the innings with a quickfire 25 runs off 12 balls before falling in the fourth over. Kohli scored a composed 51 runs off 43 balls while Patidar smashed a blistering 50 runs off just 20 balls to boost RCB's run rate during the middle overs.

In the end, Cameron Green blasted an unbeaten 37 runs to make sure that the Royal Challengers Bengaluru crossed the 200-run mark despite losing wickets at regular intervals.

Defending the total, RCB bowlers did a good job and stopped the explosive Sunrisers Hyderabad batting unit to 171/8. Swapnil Singh, Cameron Green, and Karn Sharma picked up two wickets each, while Yash Dayal and Will Jacks got one wicket each.

The premier pacer, Mohammed Siraj, failed to get any wickets but bowled an exceptional spell as in his 4-over quota, he gave away just 20 runs.