Defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) finishers Jitesh Sharma and Romario Shepherd spoke about their on-field chemistry, highlighting how their contrasting styles make them a challenging pair for bowlers in the Indian Premier League (IPL) as they gear up for their second match to be played against five-time champions Chennai Super Kings (CSK) at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium on Sunday.
Jitesh underlined the tactical advantage of their partnership, noting how their differing strengths complicate field placements for the opposition. "I feel when we play together, the bowler might be confused. When I can use all the angles, he can hit the ball with power.
So it's confusing for the bowler to place the field,” he said in a video released by RCB on X. Shepherd, meanwhile, emphasised the confidence he derives from batting alongside Jitesh, crediting him for creating a positive environment in the middle. "Whenever I'm batting with him, I feel confident because he always makes me feel like I'm the best.
Also, he makes me feel like I can hit every ball for six. So that's something that, you know, he gives me the confidence to go there and play my shots," he said. Despite his own aggressive approach, Jitesh admitted that matching Shepherd’s power is no easy task.
"I can't gain the power that I want. I think if I try to gain that power, I might not be a cricketer; I might be a bodybuilder or something else. But I think it's very difficult to get his power," he added. Shepherd also praised Jitesh’s composure and versatility, particularly in pressure situations, which helps him remain calm at the other end.
"Whenever you're batting with someone like Jitesh, what Jitesh does well in the end, you know, is hold his composure, stay calm, and you know, you have all the shots. So it's easy for him to actually go to one of his funky shots, you know, one of the scoops or something like that.
In T20 cricket, that's all you want," he said. "Just get a ball out of his game plan. And you know, Jitesh does that very well. I don't know, I have a lot of fun batting with him," Shepherd added. Jitesh and Shepherd played a huge role in RCB's triumph last year. Jitesh scored 261 runs in 15 matches, while Shepherd hit 151 runs in just 8 matches and also scored a 14-ball fifty against CSK.