Runs are undoubtedly important in T20 cricket but perhaps not more than strike rate. It is not just about how much you scored, but how fast you scored, this often becomes a deciding factor between victory and defeat. And Jitesh Sharma is not one of those people who want to go on the wrong path. The Vidarbha cricketer, who is fast emerging as India’s preferred wicketkeeper in T20Is, has been quite open about his stance of giving more importance to strike rate. This is like a breath of fresh air for the Indian team, a powerful batting unit often criticized for being timid in tough matches.
“I always go for the strike rate – I don’t compromise on the strike rate and it also makes it easier for the following batsmen,” Jitesh said on the post-match show on Geo after playing an impressive 31 off 20 balls. ” First T20 match of the series against Afghanistan in Mohali. India won the match by six wickets and took a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.
Given the numbers that Jitesh bats for India (mostly at No. 5 or below) and for Punjab Kings in the IPL, honestly, he hardly has a choice. Unlike most players tried in the middle order, Jitesh is not only used to batting at numbers but also enjoys it. He has developed his game in such a way that he can come and attack from the first ball. Earlier in an interview with Hindustan Times, Jitesh had talked about practicing power hitting for different situations, be it for just one over or in case of early wickets falling.
Hard work is paying off for the right-handed player. He was given preference over Sanju Samson for the first T20 match on Thursday, his first major win. If India needs a keeper who can bat at No. 5 or below and score runs at a high strike rate, then there is no one better than Jitesh at the moment.
Jitesh took forward the issue against Afghanistan
And the 30-year-old proved it on Thursday. He came out to bat when India’s score was 72/3 in 8.4 overs. The required rate below 8 runs per over was hardly challenging, but in T20 cricket, only a few overs are needed to completely change the momentum. Jitesh did not allow this. On his very second ball he pulled Naveen-ul-Haq to the boundary. From then on, he hit at least one four in every five balls until Mujeeb-ur-Rahman was out trying to hit a six.
He gave more importance to the strike rate and also made it easier for the next batsman – Rinku Singh – as he pointed out in the post-match show.
But Jitesh knows that an attractive 30 runs will not be enough to earn him a place in India’s XI. He wants to improve his finishing skills. When asked about his next goal, he said, “I want to finish playing. I want to keep going and win more games.”
The right-handed batsman hit five fours in his fascinating innings but his favorite moment was his stumping of Axar Patel. “Stumping is more special. It was not easy. When the batsman is beaten on the inside edge, it is never easy,” he said.
