"In India, everything starts after MS Dhoni"- Star Indian wicketkeeper Jitesh Sharma after getting maiden call as Samson's replacement vs SL

India will lock horns with Sri Lanka in the second game of the three-match T20I series on Thursday at the MCA Stadium in Pune. However, on the eve of the second game, India suffered a setback when star wicket-keeper batter Sanju Samson was ruled out of the rest of the series due to a niggle in his knee.

The BCCI also announced his replacement, and it is Vidarbha wicketkeeper Jitesh Sharma, who has joined the Indian squad for the remaining two games. Jitesh is part of the Punjab Kings in the IPL, and he caught the attention of the world with his hitting ability in the 2022 season.

However, he has been called into the team as the backup wicketkeeper for Ishan Kishan. On his maiden call with the Indian team, the 29-year-old was very excited and revealed that he idolises the former Indian captain, MS Dhoni.

MSD is one of the biggest names that Indian cricket has ever produced, and he is among the top captains and finishers that the game has ever seen. But he was also brilliant behind the stumps as well. And like every Indian wicketkeeper, Jitesh also idolises the former captain.

In a discussion with Sports Yaari, the Vidarbha star said that he likes the batting styles of Rohit Sharma and AB de Villiers, which have inspired him to play an aggressive brand of cricket, but when it comes to wicket-keeping, no one can match the skills of MSD.

Jitesh said, "In India, everything starts after MS Dhoni, so there's no need to even say how inspiring he has been for every cricketer including me. He has always been so incredible with his glovework."

The Vidarbha star is not just an explosive batter; he is also a really good finisher for his Ranji team and for PBKS in the IPL. Jitesh aspired to be like MSD, one of the game's best finishers, and enjoyed watching his video in his spare time to learn how to handle pressure.

Furthermore, he stated that he wants to learn a lot from the former Indian captain and will ask a lot of questions if he ever gets the chance to meet him.