Legendary Sunil Gavaskar has expressed his sympathy for Jitesh Sharma, stating that the wicketkeeper-batter 'did nothing wrong' to warrant his exclusion from India’s T20 World Cup 2026 squad. The former captain praised Jitesh’s technical skills behind the stumps and noted his high tactical value. Specifically, Gavaskar lauded Jitesh as the best player since MS Dhoni at assisting the captain with DRS calls, highlighting his sharp instincts and reliability in high-pressure situations.
Jitesh Sharma did nothing wrong: Sunil Gavaskar
Jitesh’s departure from the squad is less a reflection of his own performance and more a consequence of a tactical shift in the batting order. He had originally returned to the lineup in November after the team moved away from using Sanju Samson in the middle order. However, with Shubman Gill’s recent dip in form, the management has decided to move Samson back to the opening slot. This created a specific need for a backup wicketkeeper who could also serve as a reserve opener, a role that Jitesh does not traditionally fill.
To satisfy this new requirement, the selection committee, led by Ajit Agarkar, turned to Ishan Kishan. Kishan’s case was bolstered by a dominant domestic campaign in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, where he led Jharkhand to the title. By finishing as the tournament's top scorer with over 500 runs and an explosive strike rate of 190-plus, Kishan proved he was the ideal candidate to provide the versatility and aggressive opening depth the team now prioritises over a specialist middle-order keeper.
“He (Jitesh) did nothing wrong. He was a very good wicketkeeper in his chances, and after MS Dhoni, he was perhaps the best at helping the captain with DRS calls from behind the stumps," Gavaskar said on JioStar.
Gavaskar highlighted the challenging nature of Jitesh’s role, noting that the wicketkeeper-batter was limited to only five genuine opportunities in the middle order. In this difficult 'finisher' position, where batters often face a limited number of deliveries under high pressure—Jitesh managed to score 62 runs at a commendable strike rate of 158.97. Despite these efficient cameos, he ultimately lost his spot due to the team’s tactical shift toward needing a backup opener.
'It is tough on him, but he is young'
While defending Jitesh’s performance, Gavaskar appeared to make a slight error regarding the player’s age. The legendary commentator referred to the 32-year-old as 'young' when suggesting he should return to the domestic circuit to earn his place back. Though Jitesh is a relative newcomer to the international stage, having debuted in late 2023, he is actually one of the more senior members of the current T20 setup.
“It is tough on him, but he is young. He just needs to go back to domestic cricket and keep performing," he added.
But Gavaskar happy with Ishan Kishan's T20 World Cup selection
Sunil Gavaskar expressed his satisfaction with Ishan Kishan’s selection, noting that it sends a powerful message to the domestic cricket circuit. By picking Kishan on the strength of his historic Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy performance, the selectors have demonstrated that they are looking beyond franchise cricket to identify talent. Gavaskar viewed this as a positive step for the health of Indian cricket, rewarding a player who committed himself to the grind of state representation.
He further noted that Kishan’s return proves that the IPL is no longer the sole gateway to the national side. By amassing over 500 runs for Jharkhand and leading them to a title, Kishan forced his way back into the squad through sheer volume of runs in domestic T20s.
“When you see someone performing, you pick him. Ishan Kishan has already been in the side and shown he can do it. That is a big plus. His current form in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy proves that domestic cricket performance must be the selection criterion, not just the IPL. I am very happy for him. He was out of the team for a couple of years but made a fantastic comeback by leading his state team Jharkhand to a title winning season," Gavaskar concluded.