According to Aakash Chopra, the fifth T20I against Australia is an excellent opportunity for Jitesh Sharma to establish himself as a lower-middle-order wicketkeeper-batter in India’s T20 World Cup team.
With the Men in Blue leading by an insurmountable 3-1, the last game in Bengaluru on Sunday is purely academic. Jitesh, who scored 35 runs off 19 deliveries in the fourth T20I, would seek to play another rousing knock to cement his place in India’s selection for next year’s T20 World Cup.
Chopra underlined the game’s significance for certain participants in a video posted to his YouTube channel. Jitesh, on his part, stated:
“I think how big an opportunity it is for Jitesh. Ishan Kishan is a gun player. He scored half-centuries in the first two matches. However, the big news is that if Virat (Kohli) plays at No. 3, you won’t be able to make a place for Ishan. So only a keeper who plays at No. 5 or No. 6 can play.”
Aakash Chopra
The former India opener believes Ruturaj Gaikwad and Yashasvi Jaiswal will benefit from the game. He elaborated:
“I feel it’s an important game for Rutu and Yashasvi because the more runs you score, the closer you will remain to the Indian team when Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Shubman Gill are back. Keep accumulating runs so that the pressure remains on the selectors.”
Aakash Chopra
Though Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli are sitting out of the upcoming T20I series with South Africa, Shubman Gill has been chosen for the team. He might take the place of either Gaikwad or Jaiswal as an opener in the series. We could see these three forming the top trio!
“It is a good game to enhance his reputation as a wicket-taker with the new ball” – Aakash Chopra on Deepak Chahar
In terms of bowling, Aakash Chopra mentioned that Deepak Chahar should improve his performance with the new ball. He further explained:
“Deepak Chahar, because he is becoming a regular member in all formats, needs to make a comeback after proving slightly expensive with the new ball. He picked up wickets in the last match, but it is a good game to enhance his reputation as a wicket-taker with the new ball.”
Aakash Chopra
Avesh Khan should take use of his opportunity, according to the cricketer-turned-commentator. He stated:
“Avesh also won’t get too many opportunities, let’s be honest. Although he is in the team, I always feel whether he will be alright because the pace has gone down from earlier and before the last game, the economy was more than nine in T20I cricket, with a slightly bigger sample size, which is not a good thing.”
Aakash Chopra
Chopra questioned if the hosts might add Washington Sundar to the first eleven and opt for a six-bowler strategy. He doesn’t think that’s likely, though.