India’s team selection for the T20 series opener against South Africa has cast doubt over Sanju Samson’s place in the squad for the upcoming T20 World Cup. Wicketkeeper-batter Jitesh Sharma was preferred over Samson, reflecting the team management’s strategy of opting for a specialist lower-order finisher in the middle order.
Samson, who was displaced from the top of the order following Shubman Gill’s return to T20 cricket, has struggled to cement his spot in the playing eleven. In contrast, Jitesh, who considers finishing matches his key strength, is now poised to be India’s starting wicketkeeper for the World Cup, provided his performance in the remaining series is satisfactory.
Former India wicketkeeper Deep Dasgupta noted that selecting a middle-order finisher over a top-order batter is a logical move. “If Sanju is not in the top three and the keeper bats in the middle order, you would rather play a specialist lower-order batter,” he said, adding that with nine games remaining before the World Cup, major changes seem unlikely.
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The selection has also highlighted the challenges of balancing India’s bowling and batting resources. In spin-friendly conditions, it remains difficult to accommodate both Arshdeep Singh and Kuldeep Yadav, as batting depth up to number eight is a priority. Arshdeep, India’s leading T20 wicket-taker, has often been selected for his death-bowling expertise, sometimes at the expense of Kuldeep’s inclusion.
Kuldeep Yadav, however, has demonstrated his value in ODIs, taking crucial wickets even under challenging conditions. Dasgupta explained, “It’s unfortunate picking between Arshdeep and Kuldeep, but with Arshdeep’s current form, he has to be chosen. Ideally, both would play, but team balance doesn’t allow it.”
As the T20 World Cup approaches, Samson’s position remains uncertain, while the team management continues to prioritize a balance of finishing ability and bowling firepower. Observers believe the ongoing series against South Africa and New Zealand will be critical in finalizing India’s playing eleven.
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