Jitesh Sharma, a promising young batter, has been included in the Indian squad for the upcoming Asian Games in Hangzhou, scheduled to start on September 23. The 29-year-old player’s impressive performances in the Indian Premier League (IPL) earned him this opportunity. Notably, this is not the first time a player from Vidarbha has received a national call-up, as Jitesh was previously selected as a replacement for Sanju Samson in the T20I series against Sri Lanka earlier this year.
Rahul Dravid’s Advice to Jitesh Sharma
During his time with the Indian team, Jitesh Sharma recently shared a conversation he had with the Indian head coach, Rahul Dravid. Dravid advised Jitesh to continue playing his natural game. According to Jitesh, Dravid said, “Continue batting the way you are and maintain the same approach. We are specifically looking for players like you for certain batting positions (Nos 5 and 6), and we are considering you for the future.” This endorsement from Dravid has undoubtedly boosted Jitesh’s confidence.
Jitesh Sharma’s Performance and Stats
Jitesh Sharma played a crucial role as a finisher for the Punjab Kings in the last IPL season. He amassed 309 runs in 14 innings at an average of 23.76 and an impressive strike rate of 156.06. He also scored a half-century during this period. In his career, Jitesh has played 90 T20I matches, scoring 2096 runs at an average of 29.11. He has recorded one century and nine fifties in this format. Behind the wickets, Jitesh has showcased his skills as a wicketkeeper, with 57 catches and 14 stumpings to his credit.
India’s Squad for the Asian Games
Joining Jitesh Sharma in the Indian squad for the Asian Games are talented players like Yashasvi Jaiswal, Tilak Varma, Rinku Singh, Mukesh Kumar, and his Punjab Kings teammate Prabhsimran Singh. Ruturaj Gaikwad has been entrusted with the responsibility of leading the Indian side in this prestigious tournament. It is worth mentioning that cricket was included in the Asian Games in 2010 (Guangzhou) and 2014 (Incheon). Sri Lanka are the defending champions, while Bangladesh emerged as the winners in the inaugural edition.
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