Jitesh Sharma Leads NECO Master Blaster to Victory in Vidarbha Pro T20 League

Jitesh Sharma's Stellar Performance Secures Title

On Sunday, wicketkeeper-batter Jitesh Sharma showcased his exceptional T20 skills, guiding NECO Master Blaster to a thrilling seven-wicket victory over Pagariya Strikers, clinching the Vidarbha Pro T20 League title at the Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium in Nagpur.

Chasing a challenging target of 179 runs, Vedant Dighade and Adhyan Daga began the innings strongly, forming a partnership of 35 runs before Daga was run out after scoring 22 runs off 16 balls. Aryam Meshram then joined Dighade, and together they added 90 runs to the score before Dighade was run out for 42 runs off 26 balls. Coming in at number five, the in-form captain Jitesh Sharma took control, hitting three sixes and a boundary at an impressive strike rate of 272.72. With just six runs needed off 14 balls, he secured the victory with a powerful shot over spinner K Salve’s head, igniting celebrations.

Dighade finished the match unbeaten with 80 runs from 52 balls. After the win, Jitesh humorously tried to sneak away from his teammates but was playfully stopped by the team's sports therapist, adding a light-hearted touch to the celebrations. This marked the second time Jitesh concluded a match in such a dramatic fashion; he had previously led his team to victory against Bharat Rangers in the semi-finals with a decisive 46 runs off 22 balls. His reputation as a reliable finisher was further solidified by his outstanding performances in IPL 2025, including an unbeaten 85 against Lucknow Super Giants and 24 runs in the final.

Despite their unbeaten run leading to the final, the Pagariya Strikers faltered on the crucial day. Shanmesh Deshmukh's impressive 82 runs off 45 balls earned him the player of the match award. The Strikers struggled initially, losing three wickets for just 27 runs in 3.3 overs. MD Faiz contributed 19 runs off 12 balls, while Dhruv Shorey added 6 runs off 5 balls. Shivam Deshmukh steadied the innings with a resilient 82 runs off 45 balls, supported by solid contributions from Pushpak Gujar (25), Yash Kadam (16), and Vishesh Tiwari, who remained not out on 23 runs. Ultimately, the Strikers managed to post a competitive total of 178 for 7 in their 20 overs.