Will Chopra's Confidence in Jitesh Lead to Asia Cup Glory?

New Delhi, Sep 1 (NationPress) Former Indian opener Aakash Chopra has expressed his support for wicketkeeper-batter Jitesh Sharma to be included in the playing eleven for the forthcoming Asia Cup, highlighting his impressive statistics and elevated strike rate.

Jitesh, who has participated in nine T20Is for India to date, was a key player in the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) triumph in IPL 2025, amassing 261 runs at an astounding strike rate of 176 as their designated finisher. His performances have earned him a spot back in India's T20I squad for the Asia Cup, scheduled to take place in the UAE from September 9-28.

"I believe Jitesh Sharma will secure a place in the eleven for the Asia Cup. We shouldn't overthink the order of positions one to three, as he is unlikely to bat there. However, his statistics in positions four to seven have significantly improved.

“He boasts a strike rate of 166 and an average of 28. He is the first batter to achieve a strike rate exceeding 150. Therefore, when the batting order is established, he will undoubtedly be at the forefront. Jitesh Sharma's statistics have outshined those of his peers. He is truly excelling and appears to be the top choice. I sincerely hope he performs well in the Asia Cup,” Chopra remarked on his YouTube channel on Monday.

With Jitesh entering the fray and Shubman Gill being appointed T20I vice-captain, Sanju Samson's position in the starting eleven appears uncertain. Chopra noted that Samson's performance tends to decline as he moves down the batting order. “Sanju Samson is a primary candidate since he played in the last series. He has recorded three centuries in the past 12 matches, and he is currently part of the squad.”

“Certainly, he will be the first player considered. If we examine his numbers in positions one to three across all T20s, he has accumulated over 6000 runs with a strike rate of 140 and an average of 33, which are commendable statistics. Thus, Sanju Samson remains a strong contender if a keeper is needed in the top three.

“However, when I analyze his statistics in positions four to seven, he has played 98 matches with an average of 20 and a strike rate of 126. Neither his strike rate nor average in that range is impressive. While he is a frontrunner at the top, his performance diminishes when batting lower down the order,” he added.

Jitesh's inclusion also means that Dhruv Jurel has been moved to the stand-by list. Chopra described Jurel as a promising middle-order batter who still has room for development.

"He is still a work in progress. I wouldn't say he is a finished product, but I hold a lot of respect for Dhruv Jurel because he is a talented cricketer. He possesses the ability to bat at that level, which is why the Indian team management has kept him as part of the standbys.”

Chopra concluded by suggesting that Rishabh Pant should remain in consideration ahead of the T20 World Cup. Pant was part of India's victorious T20 World Cup 2024 team, but with the strong performances of Samson and Jitesh, his stock has fallen.

Furthermore, Pant is currently recovering from a fractured right foot sustained during the fourth Test against England in Manchester in July. “I believe we should keep Rishabh Pant on our radar. There are still 15 T20Is remaining after the Asia Cup, and many dynamics could change by then. Names like Shreyas Iyer and Yashasvi Jaiswal may emerge, so Rishabh Pant should be taken into account.

“The role requires someone who can finish games and hit hard. There remains untapped potential in T20s, but Rishabh has that talent, doesn't he?”