India's stand-in captain, Suryakumar Yadav, has shared insights on the toss-up between Ishan Kishan and Jitesh Sharma for the first T20I against Australia. In the IPL 2023 season, Jitesh Sharma showcased impressive performances, featuring in 14 matches and accumulating a total of 309 runs with a striking rate of 156.06, ranking third in runs scored for his team.
His proficiency in finding boundaries was evident with 22 fours and 21 sixes, although he didn't hit a half-century, recording an unbeaten 49 as his highest score. Sharma's consistency earned him a spot as a dependable middle-order batsman and a key finisher for his team.
Sharma's stellar IPL performance led to his international debut. He got his maiden India call-up in January 2023 for a T20I series against Sri Lanka. His inaugural international match occurred against Nepal on October 3, 2023, during the 2022 Asian Games held in Hangzhou, marking the initiation of his international cricket journey, a testament to his hard work and success in domestic cricket and the IPL.
On the other hand, Kishan has been part of India's Asia Cup and World Cup squads, fulfilling different roles. In the Asia Cup, he played in the middle order, while in the World Cup, he opened in the first two games for India.
Regarding the wicket-keeper position, Suryakumar addressed the dilemma. During a press conference, he expressed the team's desire to maintain continuity with Jitesh from the previous tournament. However, he acknowledged Kishan's commendable performances in roles assigned to him during the Asia Cup and World Cup, emphasising that Kishan also merits an opportunity. Suryakumar indicated that the final decision would be made on the eve of the Vizag game.
"I mean, he's been doing really well, and we wanted to keep that continuity from last tournament. And he's the guy who has been working really hard whenever he gets to a practice session. And, Ishan has been doing really well for us by taking up that role you saw in the Asia Cup in the World Cup as well, batting order. So I think he also deserve that opportunity. But going forward, we will definitely take a call tonight. I mean, what we want from both of them," remarked Suryakumar.
The toss might face a slight delay due to weather conditions, but it's improbable that the entire match will be impacted. Cloudy conditions are expected during the game at the stadium, potentially influencing the gameplay, particularly for bowlers and fielders. Weather.com forecasts a slight chance of rain during the match, alongside partly cloudy conditions.
The match is scheduled to commence at 7 PM IST, and the toss is planned for 6:30 PM IST. Both teams carry high expectations into the series, particularly following Australia's recent triumph in the ODI World Cup. Led by stand-in captain Suryakumar Yadav, India aim for a good start against the formidable Australian side, captained by the 37-year-old Matthew Wade.