Jitesh Sharma, captain of NECO Master Blaster and the reigning Vidarbha Premier League (VPL) T20 champions, has opened up on the psychological shift that comes with defending a title ahead of VPL T20 2026 in Nagpur. Speaking before the new season, the wicketkeeper-batter said the transition from chasing a trophy to protecting one demands an entirely different mental framework.

The Mindset Shift of a Defending Champion

Jitesh was candid about the added weight that comes with being title-holders. 'Defending the title gives extra unnecessary load and unnecessary attention towards winning the cup. I think chasing something always gives you a thought of what next move we should plan. It changes your mindset,' he said.

He elaborated on the contrast between the two states of mind: 'When you go for a win or chase a trophy, you always plan to win the game. But defending a title gives you a thought that I don't want to lose. I don't want to lose this trophy. If you think about how to win, it makes a huge difference in your mindset.' The distinction — between playing to win versus playing not to lose — is a well-documented psychological divide in elite sport, and Jitesh's articulation of it signals a mature captaincy approach heading into Season 2.

Consistency Over Brilliance

When asked about the formula for replicating last season's success, Jitesh kept his answer deliberately understated. 'I think doing the same boring thing again and again,' he remarked, pointing to discipline and process as the foundation of sustained performance. This philosophy — that excellence is built on repetition rather than inspiration — reflects a team-first culture he is clearly trying to embed at NECO Master Blaster.

Message to the Squad: Freedom and Trust

As captain, Jitesh delivered a pointed message to his players before the season opener, centred on psychological safety and unconditional backing. 'Be natural, be fearless. Irrespective of performance, I will back you and I trust that whatever decision you will take on the ground, it will be on behalf of the team, and I will respect it. And if you fail, still you will have my back. If you get success, still you will have my slap,' he said.

The blend of accountability and support in that message is notable — Jitesh is signalling that neither failure nor success will change the standards expected, a leadership style increasingly favoured in franchise cricket environments.

Player Development as the Real Target

Beyond trophies, Jitesh outlined a longer-term ambition for his squad. 'I just want players to improve by 2%, 3% in this league. That's it. I am not expecting too much from them. I just want that in the last league, in the last matches, as a person, as a cricketer, they are getting 10% improved now,' he said.

He added: 'Rather than thinking about performance, they should be more skillful, more mentally strong, more physically strong. And you can say they are more courageous to take more risk in this league. That's what I am expecting.' The emphasis on incremental growth over immediate results suggests NECO Master Blaster is building for more than a single-season defence.

Squad and Season Outlook

NECO Master Blaster enter VPL T20 2026 as the team to beat, fielding a squad that blends experienced campaigners with emerging talent. The full squad reads: Jitesh Sharma, Adhyayan Daga, Aryan Meshram, Shanmesh Deshmukh, Ananmay Jayaswal, Vedant Dighade, Vaibhav Chandekar, Abhishek Gupta, Shantanu Rajput, Dipesh Parwani, Harsh Dubey, Avinash Jadhav, Arya Durugkar, Gaurav Dhoble, Gaurav Farde, and Kush Khandelwal. Notably, the franchise's women's team is also set to compete this season, broadening NECO Master Blaster's footprint in Vidarbha cricket. All eyes will be on whether Jitesh's philosophy of fearless, process-driven cricket can carry the champions to back-to-back VPL titles.