NEW DELHI: Jitesh Sharma admits that being left out of India’s ICC Men’s T20 World Cup squad was disappointing, but that setback soon felt insignificant compared to the personal loss he suffered shortly after. The wicketkeeper-batter lost his father, Mohan Sharma, on February 1 after a brief illness, a moment that changed his perspective on everything.“When I got the news of my non-selection, I was a little bit disheartened. I am also a human. I can feel sad and bad. But later on, as time went by, the sad time becomes short,” Jitesh told PTI during an exclusive interview.

The disappointment of missing the global tournament soon gave way to a far deeper emotional challenge.“But later on, my dad got ill. And he passed away on 1st of Feb. So, I was with him for seven days. Afterward, I got to know that my dad needed me more than the World Cup. After that, I didn’t have any sad feeling, any regret or anything for anyone or for myself also. I am not angry or anything,” he said, with the sadness evident in his voice.“I was grateful that God gave me the opportunity to stay with my dad for seven days. So, I was able to take care of him. And I enjoyed watching the World Cup on TV at home. It’s a very different feeling. It gives you lots of pressure rather than 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 that thing and I don’t want to forget that thing because he is not there anymore. When you lose your dad, after a few days you get to know that you are now responsible for taking decisions in your family as the elder son.“And that’s it – to take care of your mother, brother and family. So, I’m someone who can’t show my feelings to them and can’t be weak in front of them because they are looking at me while playing cricket also. And I have to accept it,” Jitesh said while reflecting on how life sometimes delivers its toughest challenges.Grief, he admits, does not arrive all at once but settles in gradually, leaving behind a permanent void.“It hits after some time. I’m not coping with anything. I’m just accepting that my dad is not there anymore. There is a portion of my heart that is empty now. It will be empty till my death because of my dad.”Cricket, however, has also taught him resilience, helping him move forward despite the pain.“And I have learned to carry myself with that sorrow and that hollowness during practice. Because no matter how much I want, I can’t forget that thing. Because it’s your father, right? He is my hero for my life.”“If he was alive today, he would have told me to go and practice. Don’t worry about me. So I always bring this thing to my mind that if I’m in sorrow or pain, what he would have told me? I think he would have suggested me to go and play the game. And I’m very proud of it.”Jitesh also drew parallels with his India teammate Rinku Singh, saying he understands the emotional strength required to return to the field after personal setbacks.“That’s the same thing Rinku must have felt. That’s why he was able to come on the ground again. And it’s a very big thing.”‘Why can’t three keepers play together?’On the cricketing front, Jitesh remains pragmatic about team combinations. With wicketkeeper-batters like Sanju Samson and Ishan Kishan also in contention, he said he would be happy to adapt to any role if it helps the team.“I think of it from a different perspective. I take it from a different perspective — that by doing my own work, why not two keepers be in the playing XI and the third play as a finisher? Exactly, that can also happen. Why not?”Learning from Virat KohliJitesh also spoke about the inspiration he draws from watching Virat Kohli up close at Royal Challengers Bengaluru, admitting that matching the former India captain’s intensity is not easy.“Just observing small things, you can learn a lot. And it can be a life-turning decision or life-turning 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.”

Mohammad Rizwan and Team India

NEW DELHI: Pakistan captain Mohammad Rizwan has come under the spotlight after his earlier remark about not watching India’s matches resurfaced following Pakistan’s heavy defeat to Bangladesh in the first ODI on Wednesday.During a casual conversation with a reporter at a nets session earlier, Rizwan was asked about India’s impressive performance in the T20 World Cup semi-final against England, where they posted a total of more than 250 runs.

Responding to the question, Rizwan had said, “Sorry, I don’t watch their matches.”The comment gained renewed attention after Pakistan suffered a crushing loss to Bangladesh in the opening ODI of the three-match series. Rizwan himself struggled during the match, scoring just 10 runs off 20 balls, as Pakistan’s batting line-up collapsed under pressure.Batting first in Mirpur, Pakistan were bowled out for just 114 runs in 30.4 overs, marking their lowest ODI total against Bangladesh. The collapse came after a steady start, with the visitors losing wickets in quick succession once the first breakthrough arrived.Young Bangladeshi pacer Nahid Rana was the star of the show, producing a brilliant spell to dismantle Pakistan’s top order. The 23-year-old returned figures of 5 for 24, claiming his first five-wicket haul in ODIs. Rana removed Sahibzada Farhan, Shamyl Hussain, Maaz Sadaqat, Rizwan and Salman Agha, leaving Pakistan reeling at 69-5.Captain Mehidy Hasan Miraz also played a key role with the ball, taking three wickets, while Taskin Ahmed and Mustafizur Rahman chipped in with one wicket each. Only Faheem Ashraf, who scored 37, offered some resistance for Pakistan late in the innings.Bangladesh then made light work of the modest target, chasing down 115 in just 15.1 overs to seal an emphatic eight-wicket victory and take a 1-0 lead in the series.Opener Tanzid Hasan led the charge with an unbeaten 67 off 42 balls, sharing an 82-run partnership with Najmul Hossain Shanto (27) to complete a comprehensive win for the hosts.