His T20I career may only be 68 balls old but former India wicketkeeper-batter Parthiv Patel believes Jitesh Sharma is almost certain to make the T20 World Cup 2024 squad. The reason is not related to impressive performances, but rather combinations. Jitesh Sharma is playing the same role that Dinesh Karthik did in 2022 WC. He is batting in the lower order and not even competing with the top-order unlike Sanju Samson or Ishan Kishan. And even though he has lasted only a few balls, he has made an impact in the IND vs AFG T20 Series with a 20-ball 31 in the 1st T20.
It’s his high-risk, high-reward approach and sound technique with the big gloves and his batting position that make Jitesh Sharma all but certain for T20 World Cup 2024.
“India’s option is probably to have a wicketkeeper who can bat down the order. If you have to bat down the order, you need a destructive batter. The way Jitesh Sharma is playing, he is a very good option and I feel his ticket to the T20 World Cup has started getting printed slightly,” Parthiv Patel said on JioCinema.
Is Jitesh Sharma perfect option?
With Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli back in the T20I mix, India team management has a selection headache. To put it bluntly, Kohli-Rohit have ensured no one else gets a chance in the top order. Hence, even Ishan Kishan and Sanju Samson are doubtful to make it to the Playing XI as both bat in Top 5.
That leaves the option open for a finisher, who can play the finisher’s role. Jitesh Sharma has done that well so far. Even though he hasn’t scored 20s and 30s consistently, he has played knocks like 20-ball 31, 19-ball 35 and 16-ball 24.
“Yes, they are definitely doing that and the reason for that is the number of openers or top-order batters we have in the Indian team. There is a sort of traffic jam at the top because you have Rohit Sharma, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Ruturaj Gaikwad, who is injured, and Shubman Gill, who opened in the first match,” Parthiv Patel said.
Jitesh Sharma is only nine matches old in international cricket. And the more opportunities he gets in the top-heavy batting order, the better he will get.
“The sample size is very small, but when he came to bat in the first T20I, he came before the 10th over. I feel he understood the situation very well and played according to that. He didn’t have to bat the way he usually does. He had to settle a little, keep the strike rate slightly low, and then play his shots. It means he showed another dimension as well, that he can also build an innings,” Parthiv Patel explained.
