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‘Jitesh Sharma Is Like SKY...' - Irfan Pathan's Lavishes Praise Before IND vs SA 2nd T20I

image-lq0yfxsdJitesh Sharma in action against Australia in Dec 2023 (BCCI)

Irfan Pathan has compared Jitesh Sharma with stand-in T20I skipper and explosive middle-order batsman Suryakumar Yadav. The former Indian all-rounder stated the same after the team’s opening match of the series against South Africa was washed out owing to ceaseless rains in Durban on December 10.

Pathan backs Jitesh Sharma for T20 World Cup 2024

While speaking on a Star Sports show during India’s T20I series in South Africa, cricketer-cum-commentator Irfan Pathan backed Jitesh Sharma to get selected for the team for next year’s T20 World Cup 2024 in the West Indies.

He asserted that Jitesh should bat in the middle order in place of Ishan Kishan, who should be promoted to the top of the order instead. Pathan said:

“I will play Jitesh Sharma hands down. I have maintained from earlier that if you have to play Ishan, whether it is ODIs or T20Is, you have to play him at the top, and there is a traffic jam at the top.”

Irfan Pathan also compared Jitesh Sharma with senior T20I batter Suryakumar Yadav for his ball-striking abilities. He added:

“Jitesh Sharma is a Suryakumar Yadav-mold type player. You will see him playing the lap and different types of shots.”

Jitesh Sharma made his T20I debut for Team India at the Asian Games in Hangzhou in October this year, following his splendid run with the bat in the IPL 2023 for the Punjab Kings. The dashing right-hander bludgeoned 309 runs from 14 games for his franchise while maintaining an astonishing strike-rate of over 156.

The 30-year-old also unleashed thunderous match-winning cameos against Australia in successive games at Raipur and Bengaluru in early December. Instead of next year’s T20 World Cup 2024, the selectors picked the dazzling talent for the team’s T20I fixtures in South Africa.

After the opening match was washed out owing to rains, India will now face hosts South Africa in the second T20I of their series on December 12 at the St George's Park Cricket Ground in Gqeberha.