With injured wicketkeeper-batter Sanju Samson ruled out of the remainder of the three-match T20I series against Sri Lanka, all eyes are on Rahul Tripathi, who is likely to take his place in the playing XI in the second T20I today.
The BCCI on Thursday said it has called up Vidarbha wicketkeeper-batter Jitesh Sharma.
Samson hurt his left knee while attempting to field a ball near the boundary ropes during the first T20I at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Tuesday. Though India managed to edge the Lankans by two runs, Samson had a forgettable day in the office, scoring only five runs and then dropping a catch.
"He (Samson) was taken for scans and a specialist opinion this afternoon in Mumbai by the BCCI medical team and has been advised rest and rehabilitation," the apex cricket body said in a statement.
Sharma was picked on the basis of his impressive performances for Punjab Kings in the IPL.
Tripathi, who has been travelling with the team and has been part of the T20
and ODI set-up for 13 matches and five series, is likely to feature in the XI. He will be like-for-like replacement in the middle order. The right-hand hard-hitting batter has been a revelation in the IPL, beginning from a stellar debut season in 2017 with Rising Pune Supergiants, when he made 391 runs in 12 matches. After brief lull with Rajasthan Royals the next two seasons, Tripathi was signed by Kolkata Knight Riders, where he excelled, scoring 397 runs in 2021. He currently plays for Sunrisers Hyderabad.
Another player who might be in reckoning is opener Ruturaj Gaikwad. He averages only 16.87 in nine T20Is, but had hit six centuries in domestic white-ball cricket recently. His experience of playing at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Pune, which will host the second T20I, could also be a factor.
