Wicketkeeper batter Jitesh Sharma, who plays for Punjab Kings in the Indian Premier League (IPL), has been added to the Indian squad for the Sri Lanka T20I series. The Vidarbha wicketkeeper has been included as cover for Sanju Samson, who has sustained a knee injury. Notably, Samson injured his knee while fielding in the first T20I.
Samson sustained the injury while he made a dive to stop a boundary from Dasun Shanaka in the 13th over of Sri Lanka's innings. As he got his hands to the ball, Samson's knee got stuck in the wet ground and it took a good chunk of grass out. Although the wicketkeeper batter fielded for the rest of the innings, Samson stayed in Mumbai as his knee has swollen. The Kerala cricketer is expected to miss out on the next two T20Is, scheduled to be played within the next four days.
While Jitesh Sharma has been added to the squad as a cover for Samson, it will be Rahul Tripathi who will be replacing the batter in the playing XI. Tripathi has been warming the bench for quite a few series but is expected to get a chance finally with Samson not around.
India's Squad for 2nd and 3rd T20Is against Sri Lanka: Hardik Pandya (Captain), Ishan Kishan (wk), Ruturaj Gaikwad, Shubman Gill, Suryakumar Yadav (VC), Deepak Hooda, Rahul Tripathi, Jitesh Sharma, Washington Sundar, Yuzvendra Chahal, Axar Patel, Arshdeep Singh, Harshal Patel, Umran Malik, Shivam Mavi, Mukesh Kumar.
