Head coach Gautam Gambhir and the management may consider testing Jitesh Sharma in today’s dead rubber against Sri Lanka. Jitesh’s IPL numbers at No.5 to 7 are exceptional, with strike rates well above 145, making him a ready-made finisher option.
India’s qualification for the final, against Pakistan, has allowed breathing room to experiment.
But lapses in the field remain another red flag. The team has dropped 10 catches in the tournament, five of them against Bangladesh. Varun Chakravarthy, who missed out on wickets due to these errors, admitted the need for improvement while noting the Dubai Stadium’s “ring of fire” floodlights make catching difficult.
Samson, however, remains under scrutiny. He was not considered in the top seven against Bangladesh, raising doubts over his purpose in the squad. Fielding coach Ryan ten Doeschate admitted Samson is “still figuring out” the middle-order role. With the final looming, India must decide whether to persist with Samson or give Jitesh his chance.
