Star Kerala wicketkeeper-batsman Sanju Samson was ignored when former opening batsman Akash Chopra selected the first choice of Gloveman for the ICC Mains T20 World Cup 2026 for the India National Cricket Team.
Instead of Sanju Samson, Akash Chopra chose Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) star Jeetesh Sharma as the lead to India’s ICC Mains T20 World Cup 2026 team for the wicketkeeper-batsman’s position in the team.
Sanju Samson and Jitesh Sharma make it for India’s Asia Cup squad
31-year-old Royal Challengers Bangalore player Jitash Sharma, along with Sanju Samson, is among the two wicketkeeper-batsmen nominated in the India team for the Asia Cup 2025.
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He made it in the 15-man squad behind his heroes in RCB’s Meden Indian Premier League (IPL) Triumph in 2025, where he was a stellar with Tejashwi with the bat and behind the stump.
In 15 matches, he scored 261 runs at an average of 37.28 and a strike rate of 176.35. He also took 19 catches and made a stumping in IPL 2025.
He is likely to play XI as a middle-order batsman in India, as Shubman Gill, being a vice-captain, is likely to open an innings with Abhishek Sharma in place of Glomman Sanju Samson.
Meanwhile, speaking on his official YouTube channel, Akash Chopra said that the number of Jitesh has been very good while batting from number 4 to number 7. He said:
“We come to the man who is there (in the Asia Cup squad). I think he will play in XI. He is Jitesh Sharma. When he is played in NOS 1 to 3, he has a strike rate of 135 and average 25. We should not think too much about it as he will not get a chance there.
He looks at number 1 – Akash Chopra gives Jitesh Sharma wicketkeeper -Balleel Spot for T20 WC
Akash Chopra, batting in the middle and lower order, highlighted Jitesh Sharma’s great strike rate and chose India’s first choice for the ICC men’s T20 World Cup 2026 as wicketkeeper-batsman.
“He has a strike rate of 166 and has an average of 28. He is the first batsman whose strike rate is above 150. So when a Peking order is prepared, he will be right on top. The number of Jitesh Sharma looks best among all. Jitesh Sharma is shining. He looks at number 1.”
Akash Chopra spoke further about Dhruv Juraral and said that the young wicketkeeper-batsmen are also in controversy for the next year’s T20 World Cup. He said:
“Dhruv Jurlel is a part of the Indian setup at the moment. He is currently one of the standbis. He has played only two matches in Nos 1 to 3, so there is no point in talking about the strike rate of 71. However, Nos. 4 to 7, where he has a regular bats, has a strike rate of 144 and average of 25, which is not bad,” he said.
He is also a task in progress – Akash Chopra
Although cricketer-turnover-corator said that Dhruv Jurael is currently “work in progress”, but he said that he is the supreme talented. He said:
“That is also a task on progress. I would not say that he is a finished product, but I have a lot of time for Dhruv Jurlel because he is a good cricketer.
“They have strength. They have the talent to bat on that number, and this is the process of thinking behind the Indian team management, and that is why it is part of the standbis. He was part of the team last time, but is now part of the standbis.”
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