Former all-rounder Irfan Pathan said wicket-keeping batter Jitesh Sharma is a Suryakumar Yadav-type player. India is all set to take on South Africa in the second T20I of the three-match series St George’s Oval in Port Elizabeth on December 12.
India’s tour of South Africa: Full Coverage
India is currently in South Africa for a month-long tour, where they will play three T20Is, three ODIs and two Test matches. The first match of the T20I series got washed off on Sunday, December 10.
Speaking on Star Sports, Pathan backed Jitesh to be selected in India’s squad for the 2024 T20 World Cup, picking him to play in the middle order over Ishan Kishan. Jitesh has scored 64 runs in three innings, at a strike rate of 164.10 in T20Is for India.
“I will play Jitesh 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,” said Pathan.
He went on to call Jitesh a creative player, adding that he is off the same mold as Suryakumar Yadav. Jitesh broke into the Indian team on the back if a brilliant IPL 2023 campaign, where he scored 309 runs in 14 matches with a strike rate of 156.06.
“When you bat in the middle order, you will get spin in front of you, and there you (Kishan) might have difficulties at times. Jitesh Sharma is a slightly creative player. He is a Suryakumar Yadav-mold type player. You will see him playing the lap and different types of shots,” Pathan added.
Jitesh has been named in the T20I squad that will play two matches against South Africa after the opener was washed out. Following the tour of South Africa, India is scheduled to play just three more T20Is in preparation for the T20 World Cup.
