In a record-breaking moment for Vidarbha cricket, Jitesh Sharma, the talented Twenty20 skipper, was picked up by Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) for an astounding ₹11 crore in the IPL auction held in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on Sunday. This makes Sharma the most expensive player from Vidarbha in IPL history.

The former Punjab Kings player, who was recently released by the franchise, entered the auction with a base price of ₹1 crore. After an intense bidding war involving Chennai Super Kings, Lucknow Supergiants, and Delhi Capitals, it was RCB that finally secured him. Even Punjab Kings used their ‘Right to Match’ card at ₹7 crore but eventually bowed out when RCB raised their bid to ₹11 crore.

Jitesh Sharma, who has been part of India’s Twenty20 setup, is no stranger to the IPL. Having previously played for Punjab Kings and Mumbai Indians, Sharma has consistently impressed with his skills as a wicketkeeper-batsman. Last season, he played 14 matches and delivered solid performances in limited opportunities.

Sharma’s recent inclusion in India’s squad that triumphed over South Africa further cemented his place as a top pick in the auction. The 29-year-old, who also served as Vice-Captain for Punjab Kings, has now redefined Vidarbha’s presence in the IPL with this historic deal.

While Sharma stole the spotlight, several other players from Vidarbha also made headlines:

• Karun Nair (Delhi Capitals): ₹50 lakh
• Atharva Taide (Sunrisers Hyderabad): ₹30 lakh
• Yash Thakur (Punjab Kings): ₹1.60 crore

Sharma’s ₹11 crore deal has nearly doubled the previous record set by Umesh Yadav and Shubham Dubey, who fetched ₹5.80 crore each last year for Gujarat Titans and Rajasthan Royals, respectively.

With this monumental bid, Jitesh Sharma has not only brought pride to Vidarbha but has also positioned himself as a key player to watch out for in the upcoming IPL season.