In a thrilling encounter at Johannesburg’s New Wanderers Stadium, Jitesh Sharma etched his name in a unique, albeit unwanted, record book. During the 3rd T20I against South Africa, Jitesh attempted a deep drive off the fifth ball of the 20th over. While he connected sweetly, his heel clipped the bails, sending him back to the pavilion in a rare “hit-wicket” dismissal. He became the fifth Indian batsman to suffer this fate in T20Is.
Here’s the list of all the Indians Jitesh Sharma has joined:
- KL Rahul in 2018 vs Sri Lanka
- Harshal Patel in 2021 vs New Zealand
- Hardik Pandya in 2022 vs England
- Shreyas Iyer in 2022 vs New Zealand
- Jitesh Sharma in 2023 vs South Africa
India Star Jitesh Sharma Slams Powerful Shot vs South Africa In Last Over, Instead Falls To A Rare Dismissal Because…https://t.co/BQhwz98BSi
— Kyler (@Kyler1359812476) December 14, 2023
Jitesh Sharma got hit wicket 👀#JitheshSharma #SAvIND #INDvSA #T20I #CricketBook #Hitwicket pic.twitter.com/LK6eZjNImT
— Cricket Book (@cricketbook_) December 14, 2023
Despite the drama, India managed to post a respectable 200 on the board. Skipper SKY, who opted to bat first, justified his decision with a stunning century (his 4th in T20Is). However, the start wasn’t ideal. Gill fell victim to a questionable LBW call, and Verma followed suit the very next ball.
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With the scoreboard looking shaky, SKY joined forces with Jaiswal, and the two steadied the innings. Jaiswal played his part with a well-made 60, but it was SKY who stole the show.
Suryakyumar Yadav found his rhythm alongside Jaiswal, and the boundaries started to flow freely. Rinku Singh added a brisk 47, but the final two overs saw five quick wickets, giving the momentum a slight swing towards South Africa.
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While India might have left a few runs out there, the total was certainly respectable. With SKY’s heroics and a decent score on the board, the stage was set for a thrilling chase in Johannesburg. The drama had just begun, and the Indian fans were eagerly awaiting the second half of the T20I spectacle.
