Head coach Gautam Gambhir would undoubtedly be concerned by Sanju Samson’s apparent middle-order misfit status, and the Indian team management may feel pressured to put Jitesh Sharma to the test during their inconsequential Asia Cup final Super 4 match against Sri Lanka in Dubai on Friday.
After losing both of its Super 4 matches against Bangladesh and Pakistan, Sri Lanka was eliminated from the competition after India’s victory over Bangladesh. They would just play to fulfill the necessary formalities.
The team’s fielding is currently the only issue, aside from Samson, who does not fit into the puzzle that is the Indian batting order. In the tournament thus far, India has missed 10 catches, including 5 against Bangladesh enroute to the final.
In high-stakes matches, the margins are razor-thin, and even mystery spinner Varun Chakravarthy—who has often been let down by dropped catches—admitted that fielding remains an area needing major improvement.
“As they say, you can’t give excuses at this level. As a team, we have to definitely start catching all those because we have qualified for the finals and we should be taking all those catches,” said Chakravarthy, who had several opportunities go begging off his bowling despite taking a few wickets against Bangladesh.
He did, however, give the fielders the benefit of the doubt, pointing out that the floodlights at the Dubai Stadium are similar to those at football stadiums and are not high towers.
“But if you ask me, the ‘ring of fire’ (floodlight design) definitely is a little bit of disturbance as it comes in the eyesight sometimes. We have to get acclimatised to it,” the mystery spinner said.
Although fielding is one area that requires improvement, Suryakumar Yadav’s team has won all five of their games with ease, but there are also minor flaws in their arsenal that have gone unnoticed.
Against Bangladesh, Samson was left out of the top seven, sparking questions over his role in the side if he cannot be trusted to bat ahead of Axar Patel. While Shivam Dube’s promotion to No. 4 made sense tactically against the wrist spinners, it failed to preserve the left-right balance in the middle order. Hardik Pandya was sent ahead of him, with two left-handers—Tilak Varma and Axar Patel—following.
“Sanju is still figuring out how to bat at No. 5,” prior to the Bangladesh match, fielding coach Ryan ten Doeschate had said.
In the meaningless match against Sri Lanka, Samson might once more be moved up to No. 3 and avoid being sent there when India plays in the final on Sunday. However, Samson lacks the skill to attack the bowling in the last ten overs when the ball softens and the surface slows down, so it is easier said than done. His fifty against Oman was patchy at best.
It is acknowledged that the team is unable to drop Samson due to his prior success at the top. Jitesh Sharma, on the other hand, is a middle-order slogger who can finish games in a format where duties must be well defined.
For now, Gambhir remains firm about sticking to defined player roles, which means Jitesh may have to bide his time a little longer—though India would hope it doesn’t come at a cost. The Sri Lanka game also presents an opportunity to rest Jasprit Bumrah, should he wish, ahead of the final.
Squads:
India: Suryakumar Yadav (C), Shubman Gill, Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Sanju Samson (WK), Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Jasprit Bumrah, Varun Chakravarthy, Kuldeep Yadav, Harshit Rana, Rinku Singh, Jitesh Sharma (WK), Arshdeep Singh
Sri Lanka: Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis (WK), Kamil Mishara, Kusal Perera, Charith Asalanka (C), Dasun Shanaka, Kamindu Mendis, Wanindu Hasaranga, Dunith Wellalage, Dushmantha Chameera, Nuwan Thushara, Nuwanidu Fernando, Binura Fernando, Chamika Karunaratne, Janith Liyanage, Matheesha Pathirana, Maheesh Theekshana
