Jitesh Sharma reveals Rahul Dravid’s advice after being name to India’s Asian Games squad. Jitesh also name as a replacement for Sanju Samson in this year’s T20I series against Sri Lanka.
Sharma, a brilliant Vidharbha wicketkeeper-batter, has been nominate to the Indian squad for the Asian Games, which begin on September 23 in Hangzhou. The 29-year-old was recognize for his outstanding efforts in the Indian Premier League 2023. Notably, this is his second call-up to the Indian team, having previously replace Sanju Samson in the T20I series against Sri Lanka earlier this year.
Jitesh recently shared a conversation he had with Indian head coach Rahul Dravid while on the team. He added that the head coach told him to keep batting the way he has been. Dravid also claimed that Team India is looking for guys like him to fill in at the number five or six spot.
“Yes, I spoke with Rahul sir when I was select for the home season a few months ago. ” ‘Jaise batting kar rahein ho, waise hi karte raho,’ he said. Or hum future ke liye yehi dekh rahe hain. Position ke liye aise players hi chahiye.’ (Continue batting in the same manner as before. News18 quoted Jitesh as adding, “We are specifically looking for players like these for certain batting positions (Nos 5 and 6).”
Notably, during the IPL 2023, Jitesh was the finisher for Punjab Kings, scoring 309 runs in 14 innings at an average of 23.76 and a strike rate of 156.06 with one half-century. He has scored 2096 runs at an average of 29.11 in 90 T20 matches so far in his career, with one hundred and nine fifties to his name.
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In addition, the wicketkeeper batter has 71 dismissals (57 catches and 14 stumpings). In addition to him, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Tilak Varma, Rinku Singh, Mukesh Kumar, and his Punjab Kings teammate Prabhsimran Singh have been called up. Ruturaj Gaikwad named captain for the event. In which India has already qualified for the quarterfinals as the highest-ranked Asian team.
Notably, cricket has already been play in two Asian Games editions, notably Guangzhou (2010) and Incheon (2014). The defending champions are Sri Lanka, while Bangladesh won the first tournament. Afghanistan, on the other hand, finished second in both editions.
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