Jitesh was the same wicket-keeper that India chose as their first choice for the five-match T20I series against South Africa; someone who was capable of dealing with pressure situations by playing aggressively and batting at a time when it counts most. Despite this, he was left out of the recently announced World Cup squad, with Ishan Kishan and Rinku Singh returning to the team after having been absent, and Jitesh left watching.
The irony? This World Cup will be played in India and Sri Lanka, on surfaces where finishing skill, creativity, and game awareness often matter more than reputation. With Suryakumar Yadav continuing as captain and Axar Patel as vice-captain, India is clearly backing stability, but in doing so, may have ignored one of its most format-ready finishers.
A Finisher Built for Chaos
Jitesh Sharma thrives in an environment that allows for embracing chaos, as does T20 cricket. The most successful season in IPL history by RCB saw him hit 261 runs from 11 innings with a strike rate of 176.35, all during high-pressure over situations. His hits were neither low-risk cameo nor padding up against a tired attack – these hits changed the momentum of games.
Even at the international level, Jitesh has been efficient rather than flashy: 162 runs in 12 T20I innings at a strike rate of 151.40. Those numbers may not scream superstardom, but they whisper reliability, especially for a role where balls faced are limited, and the margin for error is microscopic. In home World Cups, India has historically succeeded when finishers understood tempo, not just power. Jitesh fits that blueprint neatly.
Domestic Form Can’t Be Ignored Selectively
With Jitesh out, Rinku Singh has emerged as the likely finisher. Talent-wise, that’s understandable. Form-wise, it’s debatable. In the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2025–26, Rinku managed 172 runs in seven matches at a strike rate of 135.43, serviceable, but not destructive.
The IPL numbers don’t fully rescue the case either. His 206 runs in 11 innings at a strike rate of 153.73 for KKR were decent, yet far from the game-breaking standard he set in earlier seasons. More tellingly, he wasn’t selected for the home T20I series against South Africa. If recent domestic form was a selection yardstick, Jitesh’s omission feels inconsistent at best, contradictory at worst.
The Value of Unorthodox Impact
Modern T20 bowling plans are built on predictability: wide yorkers, slow bouncers, deep square leg. Jitesh Sharma disrupts those plans. His 360-degree strokeplay, featuring switch-hits, scoops, and late ramps, forces captains to rethink fields mid-over.
He has shown with an 85 of no loss from 35 balls as he chased 228 by Lucknow Super Giants in just 18.4 overs that he can use the style of aggressive play in a controlled manner to get the job done; this type of play is situational (awareness), shot selection and fearless execution; all of these are the types of plays needed for knockout games when the traditional forms of play have run out. Innovation, typically, is what separates players who score 180s from those who score 210s in subcontinent conditions.
Dropping Jitesh Sharma isn’t a catastrophic error, but it is a risky one. In a World Cup hosted at home, where expectations are suffocating, and margins are razor-thin, India needs finishers who can think as fast as they swing. Jitesh offers that rare mix of composure and chaos.
Key Takeaway
India didn’t drop a player; they dropped a specialist skillset.
FAQs
- What made Jitesh Sharma’s omission surprising?
He was India’s first-choice wicketkeeper in the recent South Africa T20I series.
- Why is Jitesh considered a better finisher option?
His IPL and T20I strike rates show consistent impact in death overs under pressure.
- How could this decision affect India in the World Cup?
India may lack an innovative finisher in tight knockout situations on slow surfaces.
Disclaimer: This blog post reflects the author’s personal insights and analysis. Readers are encouraged to consider the perspectives shared and draw their own conclusions.
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