Dropped from T20 World Cup 2026 squad, Jitesh Sharma sends message to selectors with 33-ball 75

India’s wicketkeeper-batter Jitesh Sharma overcame a series of single-digit scores to register a whirlwind 75-run knock in Baroda’s must-win Vijay Hazare Trophy 2025-26 clash on January 8. Dropped from T20 World Cup 2026 squad, Jitesh made a statement, using the short boundaries at Rajkot’s Niranjan Shah Stadium to score 75 runs at a strike rate of 221.21 against Chandigarh.

Jitesh follows up Hardik’s carnage

Jitesh walked in to bat in the 30th over after Hardik Pandya's 31-ball 75 blitz. While Priyanshu Moliya continued to play the anchor role, Jitesh let lose in the 35th over. He hit Taranpreet Singh for two sixes and a four. In the next over, he hit Vishu Kashyap for a six and two fours. He gave the same treatment to Hartejassvi Kapoor as well. The 32-year-old wicketkeeper reached his fifty from just 23 balls. In the 39th over, Kapoor got the wicket of Jitesh. He hit four sixes and eight fours in his 75-run knock.

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When Jitesh departed, Baroda's score was 319/6 after 38.3 overs. Moliya and Ninad Ashvinkumar Rathva shared a 64-run partnership for the seventh wicket. Moliya scored 103 runs from 106 balls. Rathva contributed with a run-a-ball 38. Baroda lost four wickets for 18 runs and were bowled out for 391 in 49.1 overs.

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Jitesh's struggles in Vijay Hazare after getting dropped

The wicketkeeper-batter struggled for runs in Vijay Hazare Trophy after facing the snub from Ajit Agarkar-led selection committee. He registered scores of 2, 0, 9 and 8 against Uttar Pradesh, Hyderabad, Vidarbha and Jammu and Kashmir.

Why Jitesh was dropped from T20Is?

As vice-captain Shubman Gill was short of runs, he was dropped from the squad. He was replaced by Ishan Kishan who led Jharkhand to Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT) 2025 title. Kishan was also the top run-scorer in the tournament. As a result, the selectors felt that there is no need to have two back-up wicketkeepers as Sanju Samson will open after Gill was dropped. It led to Jitesh getting replaced by Rinku Singh.

Rinku did not feature in the South Africa T20I series after getting just one game on Australia tour which was washed out due to rain.

In two innings against South Africa, Jitesh scored 37 runs. He walked out to bat on the final ball of the innings in the fifth T20I and did not get the strike.