Former cricketer-turned-commentator Aakash Chopra has advocated for Jitesh Sharma’s inclusion as the first-choice wicketkeeper in India’s T20 World Cup 2026 squad.

Chopra emphasized that Jitesh has the best numbers among all wicketkeeper batters for India when it comes to batting in the middle order.

While Sanju Samson has brilliant stats while batting at the top of the order, they fall considerably when batting in the middle order.

With Shubman Gill’s return to the T20I fold as vice-captain, it will be interesting to see whether Samson continues to open the batting with Abhishek Sharma or not.

If Gill does end up opening the innings, it is highly likely that the team management will look to play the wicketkeeper between No. 4 to 7. As a result, Chopra reckons that Jitesh's numbers make him the top pick.

"We come to the man who is there (in the Asia Cup squad). I feel he will play in the XI. That is Jitesh Sharma. When he has played at Nos. 1 to 3, he has a strike rate of 135 and an average of 25. We shouldn't think too much about that because he won't get a chance there. However, his numbers at Nos. 4 to 7 have become a lot better," Chopra said on his YouTube channel.

"He has a strike rate of 166 and an average of 28. He is the first batter whose strike rate is above 150. So when the pecking order is prepared, he will go right at the top. Jitesh Sharma's numbers have looked the best amongst everyone else. Jitesh Sharma is shining bright. He seems to be at No. 1," the former India opener added.

Aakash Chopra also mentioned the names of KL Rahul as a potential option. "His numbers in the top three are very good, but we are not supposed to look very deep and spend too much time on numbers in the top three. When I look at Nos. 4 to 7, he still has an average of 40, but he has a strike rate of 133. I don't think a strike rate of 133 at Nos. 4 to 7 is going to cut it. No one looks close to KL Rahul in terms of average, but a strike rate of 133," he remarked.