WATCH: Jitesh Sharma's eye-catching reverse-lap off Jaydev Unadkat for four
Early days into IPL 2022, middle-order batter Jiresh Sharma has emerged as PBKS' key performer with the bat.
Punjab Kings (PBKS) middle-order batter Jitesh Sharma is one of the young uncapped Indian cricketers to have emerged as his team's key performer in the initial weeks of the IPL 2022. The Vidarbha cricketer has played some impressive innings in the lower middle-order for PBKS.
After playing two notable cameos of 26 off 17 and 23 off 11 versus Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Gujarat Titans (GT), respectively, Jitesh produced another vital knock, a 15-ball unbeaten 30, in PBKS' match against the Mumbai Indians (MI) on Wednesday (April 13).
Relishing the difficult end-overs duties, the right-hander went after the MI bowling unit, especially their left-arm pacer Jaydev Unadkat, whom he smashed for a 23-run over, including 2 fours and 2 sixes. The best of the lot was reserved for the last, as Jitesh Sharma reverse lapped Unadkat for an amazing four over the short-third fielder.
Jitesh Sharma's reverse-lap leaves MI awestruck
Rubbing salt into the wounds for Unadkat, Jitesh Sharma finished his over with a tremendous shot that showcased a lot of skill and range that the 28-year-old possesses. Anticipating an attempted yorker from Unadkat, Jitesh took the full-pitched ball on the full and created room to go up and over the short-third fielder for another boundary.
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The fielders present inside the circle behind square on the off-side could only watch the ball sail over their heads for four more runs to Jitesh and PBKS' kitty.
Gauging Unadkat's plan to bowl a yorker with a long-off and long-on in place, Jitesh switched his stance, created room and sent the ball through the vacant deep-third region at the MCA Stadium in Pune.
— Peep (@Peep_at_me) April 13, 2022
His innings took Jitesh Sharma's IPL 2022 run-tally to 79 from three innings at an eye-catching strike-rate of 183.72. In an expanded IPL, where multiple young uncapped players have grabbed the limelight, the Vidarbha batter has quietly slipped under the radar. But he has proven to be a very effective buy for PBKS.
The Punjab franchise bought Jitesh for a base sum of INR 20 lakhs at the mega auction in Bangalore this February. The bid of encouragement came the 28-year-old's way after some impressive domestic performances. He has made 1,378 runs in domestic T20s for Vidarbha with a notable strike-rate of 142.79.