Ahead of the first T20I match against South Africa, former cricketer Sanjay Bangar feels that Team India`s management should provide opportunities to Jitesh Sharma to take over the finisher`s role.
The first T20I match between Team India and South Africa is scheduled to be played on Tuesday at the Barabati Stadium in Cuttack.
Speaking on JioStar, Bangar feels that Sanju Samson has done well for India in Shubman Gill`s absence, but with the inclusion of players such as Tilak Varma, Shivam Dube and Hardik Pandya, the Kerala-born cricketer won`t find a place in the middle order.
“The Indian team management did give chances to Sanju Samson. He opened the innings and performed really well when Shubman Gill was absent, scoring hundreds against Bangladesh and South Africa. He also had a run of low scores. But his best spot in T20 cricket is still at the top. With players like Tilak Varma, Shivam Dube, or Hardik Pandya available, there may not be a place for him at number four, five, or six,” said the former cricketer.
Further speaking, he also said that Team India`s think tank has tried Samson in different roles, but has not received the required results. Bangar added that Jitesh has delivered performances regularly in the Indian Premier League (IPL).
“If you need someone who can hit sixes with the older ball, you have Jitesh Sharma. He has done it in the past and does it regularly in the IPL. It is good to back a player who has done it for longer. Once your number four, five, and six are sorted, give the number seven spot to a guy who has done that job more often,” said the 53-year-old cricketer.
“I think Jitesh will now get the number seven spot. The Indian team has tried to fit in Sanju Samson and tried him in different roles. But they have not got the required returns from him at number four, five, or six. Jitesh Sharma has shown he is quite a capable player. He can bat lower down the order and look to hit the big shots even with a slightly older ball,” Bangar added.
IND vs SA 1st T20I: Full Squads
India: Abhishek Sharma, Shubman Gill, Suryakumar Yadav(c), Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Jitesh Sharma(w), Jasprit Bumrah, Varun Chakaravarthy, Kuldeep Yadav, Washington Sundar, Sanju Samson, Arshdeep Singh, Harshit Rana.
South Africa: Quinton de Kock(w), Aiden Markram(c), Tony de Zorzi, Dewald Brevis, Tristan Stubbs, David Miller, Marco Jansen, Corbin Bosch, Keshav Maharaj, Anrich Nortje, Lungi Ngidi, Reeza Hendricks, Ottneil Baartman, Donovan Ferreira, Kwena Maphaka, George Linde.
(With ANI Inputs)