Jitesh Sharma opened up about his rapport with Sanju Samson after edging out the latter to become India’s first-choice wicketkeeper-batter in T20Is.
During the Asia Cup 2025 in UAE, Shubman Gill’s return to the T20I fold as vice-captain saw Samson losing his spot at the top of the order despite hitting three hundreds last year.
After receiving some chances in the middle order, Samson was made to warm bench in the third, fourth and fifth T20Is of the Australia tour last month, with Jitesh being preferred as wicketkeeper-batter.
The Indian team management continues to back Jitesh in the ongoing T20I series against South Africa as he featured in the opening game at Cuttack on Tuesday (December 9).
Despite the competition for the spot, Jitesh described his relationship with Samson as warm, respectful and rooted in mutual growth.
"I am very grateful that he is in the team and I am under him. Frankly speaking, he is like an elder brother to me and I think because of healthy competition, your talent comes out. I think it's good for the team also," Jitesh said while speaking to the media after first T20I against South Africa.
"There is so much talent in the Indian team. You can feel it. Sanju Bhai is out and I am playing. He is a great player. One of the great players. If I have to compete with him, I have to play shoulder to shoulder, then I have to bring my A game," he added.
Sharma further stressed that the bond between them goes beyond competition. "I think we both are trying to play for India, not for other teams. We are like brothers. We share lots of experience with each other. He helps me a lot whenever I do keeping or batting. That's the thing," he remarked.
Speaking of the Cuttack T20I, India kicked off the series with a crushing 101-run victory over South Africa.
Asked to bat first, the Men in Blue posted a formidable 175/6 on the board, thanks to all-rounder Hardik Pandya’s whirlwind 59 not out off 28 balls.
In reply, the Proteas innings folded for a paltry 74 in 12.3 overs. All the Indian bowlers used by the captain managed to claim at least one wicket.
While the pace duo of Jasprit Bumrah and Arshdeep Singh took two wickets each, the spin twin of Varun Chakaravarthy and Axar Patel bagged a couple of scalps as well. Hardik and his fellow seam-bowling all-rounder Shivam Dube also troubled the South African batters, returning with wicket apiece.
Hardik earned the Player-of-the-Match accolade with India 1-0 up in the series. The second T20I will be played in Chandigarh on Thursday (December 11).
(With ANI Inputs)
