After a resounding ODI series triumph over South Africa, the T20 series started for the Blue team with an enormous 101-run victory. Despite the glorious start, the exclusion of Sanju Samson from the playing XI is still under discussion.
The moment Jitesh Sharma was appointed as the wicketkeeper for the match, speculations abounded regarding the relationship between him and Sanju Samson. Jitesh, after the magnificent victory, took it upon himself to eliminate the drama in a great way, calling their connection nothing less than a brotherhood.
Jitesh reveals the truth about his friendship with Sanju
The previous match saw the sidelining of Sanju Samson and his being out of the picture in the playing XI being the major point of discussion in the case of the T20 series against South Africa. It was no drama when Shubman Gill was given preference for the opener’s slot instead of Samson and Jitesh Sharma was placed in charge of the wicket. The move generated heated discussions, mostly centered around the nature of Jitesh’s relationship with Samson.
With the T20 World Cup just around the corner, Samson’s position in the team remains a puzzle. Some fans have even pointed towards a rivalry between Jitesh Sharma and Sanju Samson. But the truth got a twist as Jitesh put an end to the rumors after the match by talking about their friendship.
“I am very grateful that he is in the team. Frankly speaking, he is like an elder brother. With healthy competition, your talent comes out. It is good for the team also. There is so much talent. You can feel it,” he said.
“Sanju bhaiya is a great player. I have to compete with him, that is when I have to be at my best. We are both trying to play for India. We are like brothers. We share a lot of experience with each other. He helps me a lot,” he added.
Jitesh Sharma on his finisher’s role
Team India suffered an early collapse while batting first in the match. India got a major boost with Hardik Pandya’s firepower, and his partnership of 38 runs with Jitesh Sharma made a decisive contribution. When Jitesh was later asked about his finisher’s role, he gave a very succinct response, calling it a “thankless job.”
“It’s a tough job really. It’s a thankless job, basically, finishing games. But I like the pressure. When I go to the first six or five overs, I like the pressure and the thrill,” he said.
Eventually, after a resounding 101-run victory, India took the lead in the series 1-0. Next, the match will be played in Mullanpur, and Suryakumar Yadav and his men will be aiming for another convincing win over the Proteas.
