Former India speedster Irfan Pathan backed the management's decision to pick Jitesh Sharma over Sanju Samson in T20Is. Samson, who cemented his place in India's playing XI after Rohit Sharma's retirement, was replaced by Jitesh Sharma during the team's last T20I assignment in Australia.
Why India should go with Jitesh Sharma over Sanju Samson?
Irfan Pathan, who was part of India's 2007 World Cup-winning side, noted that the management should stick with Jitesh instead of Samson as the former has more experience in the lower-middle order compared to the latter.
“It’s a fair call because you will face difficulty going forward if you are thinking about batting Sanju Samson down the order. Sanju Samson has batted up the order, in the top three, in his entire career. It’s a very difficult job if you go down from there. He played a very good knock in the Asia Cup while batting in the middle overs,” the cricketer-turned-commentator said on Star Sports.
“However, if you have to choose one between the two as to who will be more competent and proceed with one plan, you are proceeding with Jitesh Sharma currently, and you will have to move forward with him only. If you keep chopping and changing, you will have difficulties going forward,” he added.
Sanju Samson's performance as opener
While featuring as an opener, Samson smashed three centuries and 436 runs at an average of 43.6 and a strike-rate of 180.16 in 2024. After Gill returned in the T20I setup this year, Samson has 185 runs in 14 matches at an average of 18.5 and a strike-rate of 120.91.
Jitesh Sharma equalled MS Dhoni's record
Jitesh Sharma equalled MS Dhoni's record for the most dismissals in an innings at home (four) during the first T20I against South Africa.
Most wicketkeeping dismissals in an innings for India in T20Is
5 - MS Dhoni (vs ENG) - Bristol, 2018 (5 catches)
4 - MS Dhoni (vs AFG) - St Lucia, 2010 (4 catches)
4 - MS Dhoni (vs PAK) - Colombo RPS, 2012 (4 catches)
4 - MS Dhoni (vs SL) - Cuttack, 2017 (2 catches, 2 stumpings)
4 - Dinesh Karthik (vs ENG) - Southampton, 2022 (3 catches, 1 stumping)
4 - Jitesh Sharma (vs SA) - Cuttack, 2025 (4 catches)