Sanju Samson and Jitesh Sharma are going to compete for the wicket-keeper middle-order batter spot in India’s XI in the upcoming T20I series against Afghanistan.
India have apparently dropped Ishan Kishan from the T20I side, despite Kishan scoring two consecutive half-centuries against Australia in the T20I series in November. The belief is that since Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli are back in the T20I side, there is no space for Kishan in the top three, where he has excelled in his T20 career.
With Rishabh Pant likely to make his comeback in the IPL, and KL Rahul reportedly deciding to bat in the middle-order in the IPL 2024 to make contention for T20 World Cup 2024 squad, this Afghanistan series is a massive opportunity for both Sanju Samson and Jitesh Sharma to impress the selectors further.
India will play the first T20I against Afghanistan on January 11 in Mohali.
Sanju Samson or Jitesh Sharma – Who would India pick? A Stat comparion:
T20I numbers
In 21 T20I innings, Samson averaged only 19 with a strike rate of 133 with one half-century. In 5 T20I innings, Jitesh has scored only 69 runs, but he has made those runs at a strike rate of 150. Jitesh has shown an ultra-aggressive batting approach in his few chances in the Indian team, which included a 19-ball 35 against Australia.
IPL numbers
Samson, too, tends to bat with similar aggression during the IPL while captaining Rajasthan Royals. In the IPL 2023 season, Samson had a strike rate of 153 and maintained a good average of 30. Jitesh had a slightly better strike rate of 153, but had an average of 23.
But, it is to note that, while Jitesh Sharma dons the finisher’s role for the Punjab Kings, Samson bats in the top four for RR.
The craze for Sanju Samson during Ranji Trophy. pic.twitter.com/6P2QLcqV95
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) January 7, 2024
Since India are looking for a finisher as their wicket-keeper, it is likely that Jitesh Sharma would get the nod over Sanju Samson for the first T20I against Afghanistan.
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