Jitesh Sharma was part of India’s T20I setup until January. But come the T20 World Cup 2024, the Indian management decided to go with Rishabh Pant as their main wicketkeeper and Sanju Samson as his backup. After the mega-event, Team India travelled to Zimbabwe and then Sri Lanka, but Jitesh couldn’t find a spot.
Jitesh Sharma happy for Samson
With Pant resting, he finally got a chance. Well, not really. Samson, who’d played on both tours that Jitesh had missed, was preferred over him, and following lukewarm results in Delhi and Gwalior, he delivered in Hyderabad. A stunning century. This should have disgruntled Jitesh, but he’s anything but.
“It was good to see the Indian team back Sanju and give him opportunities to play. Seeing that gives hope to those who are not in the playing XI, knowing that when their time comes, they will receive the same kind of support,” Jitesh Sharma told the Times of India.
Focus on himself, not the competition
Indian cricket is thriving, and for each spot in the XI, multiple players have to fight. Apart from those mentioned, you have Ishan Kishan and KL Rahul ready to return. But Jitesh Sharma isn’t worried about others. He believes focusing on his growth and performance is better than worrying about others.
“I don’t see myself comparing with others because all wicket keepers focus on their own performance and growth, rather than competing against each other. Everyone has a different role, a different playing style—each of us is unique. I believe it’s better to focus on myself rather than on others. We are all doing our best. When I put myself in their shoes and imagine failing, it feels bad. Everyone feels that way, so I don’t compare myself to others. Instead, I focus on my process—my batting, keeping, and fitness,” he said.
Gambhir’s encouraging words
Gautam Gambhir recently talked about how his job is to back players, and Jitesh Sharma echoed the same. He talked about how each player reacts differently and how the Indian head coach has made the players who haven’t gotten game time feel secure.
“Those are important things to remember because anyone playing for India has earned that place. Everyone deals with pressure differently. Some players become comfortable quickly, while others take more time. I think these words carry meaning for anyone new to the team. They offer comfort, as every player is nervous in their early stages. If the coach gives that kind of reassurance, it allows the player to play freely, knowing they won’t be judged by one or two innings. The team knows that the player has performed well before and will receive their backing,” he concluded.
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