Deep Dasgupta reveals the reason why Jitesh Sharma should be first-choice wicketkeeper in the playing XI

Former Team India keeper-batter Deep Dasgupta has explained why it’s a good decision to have Jitesh Sharma as the first choice keeper-batter instead of Sanju Samson in the Indian T20I side. 

Advertisment

Speaking exclusively to PTI, the former keeper revealed that if Samson isn’t in the top three in the batting order, it would be wise to have a proper lower-order finisher, who can come out all guns blazing right from his first ball.

"It is the right call. If Sanju is not in the top three and if the keeper is batting in the middle order, you would rather play a specialist, a lower-order batter than a top-order batter. It is not easy batting for two balls or four balls. Jitesh is a specialist in that regard," former India wicket-keeper Deep Dasgupta told PTI.

India will play nine more games before the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 in India and Sri Lanka in February, with four against South Africa and five against New Zealand. Deep Dasgupta asserted that he doesn’t see any major changes to the current T20I squad or the playing XI before the World Cup.

"Nine games to go (before World Cup), I don't see too many changes ahead of the T20 World Cup," he added.

While Samson was part of the ICC T20 World Cup 2024 squad, he couldn’t make it to the playing XI in any game of that successful campaign. Nevertheless, Samson scored three centuries, including 436 runs at an average of 43.6 in 2024. 

In the ongoing calendar year, he has amassed 185 runs from 14 games at an average of 18.5. In the first T20I against South Africa, Jitesh Sharma was selected as the first-choice keeper-batter, with Samson being benched.

Advertisment

With Shubman Gill elevated as the new vice-captain of the Indian T20I team, Samson had to be benched from the XI.

Stay updated with the latest cricket news, match insights, and exclusive updates at Sky247 India and download the Sky247 app to start betting today!