I take full responsibility: Jitesh Sharma on India A’s heartbreaking Super Over loss

India A skipper Jitesh Sharma accepted full blame for the team’s heartbreaking Super Over defeat to Bangladesh in the Rising Stars Asia Cup 2025 semifinal, acknowledging that the biggest misstep was leaving 14-year-old sensation Vaibhav Suryavanshi out of the tie-breaker.

Despite being the tournament’s leading run-scorer and top six-hitter, Suryavanshi remained in the dugout as India opted for Jitesh, Ramandeep Singh and Ashutosh Sharma to face the Super Over.

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The move backfired spectacularly. Bangladesh pacer Ripon Mondal delivered a flawless over, cleaning up both Jitesh and Ashutosh for golden ducks. Jitesh missed a lap attempt against a pinpoint yorker, while Ashutosh failed to clear the infield off the very next ball, resulting in India being bundled out for 0.

After the loss, Jitesh admitted the call to keep Suryavanshi out of the Super Over came jointly from him and the team management, based on their assessment of roles.

“I think they (Vaibhav Suryavanshi and Priyansh Arya) are the masters of power play, but in the death, me, Ashu and Raman are the ones who can hit the big shots at will. So it was a team decision and my decision to go with whatever the high percentage is there,” he explained during the post-match presentation.

Jitesh himself had earlier made 33 off 23 balls after walking in at No.4, but his dismissal proved costly. He conceded that his inability to finish the chase shifted the match’s momentum.

“I take full responsibility (for the loss). As a senior, I should have finished the match. It’s a learning curve for all of us. We have an incredibly talented group of players. We were ahead of the game always but the young players got a bit under pressure in the last few overs of the chase. It can happen. They will get better with experience,” he said.

Bangladesh had set India a daunting 195 after staging a stunning recovery from 130 for six. Meherob Hasan’s blistering 48 off 18 balls, including four sixes and a four in a punishing 28-run 19th over bowled by part-timer Naman Dhir, turned the innings on its head. The charge continued in the final over as Meherob and Akbar Ali plundered 20 more runs to close at 194 for six.

India A began their chase in electric fashion. Suryavanshi hammered 38 off 15 while Priyansh Arya smashed 44 off 23, propelling India past 50 in just 3.1 overs.

But both fell while going for big hits, and although Jitesh and Nehal Wadhera (32 not out) steadied the innings, the scoring rate dipped in the closing overs, leaving India needing 16 off the final six balls. A chaotic final-ball scramble helped by a misfield and a wayward throw from wicketkeeper Akbar Ali allowed India to pinch three runs and force a Super Over, where their fortunes ultimately unravelled.