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The Keeper's Conundrum: How India Is Sacrificing Samson And Jitesh For Bizarre Tactics

Anurag Dasgupta

Samson, Jitesh underutilization [Source: AFP Photo] Samson, Jitesh underutilization [Source: AFP Photo]

India have been excellent in the ongoing Asia Cup 2025 event, winning both their games convincingly and reaching the Super 4 stage of the competition with a game to spare. The Men in Blue have ticked all boxes as the side has looked extremely well-rounded in their first two matches.

However, there is only one issue that the team still needs to address ahead of their last match of the group stage against Oman, and the Super 4 stage. The Sanju Samson and the Jitesh Sharma conundrum continues to be a puzzle for the Men in Blue, and they need to rectify it before the business end picks up.

Have India underutilised Sanju Samson in Asia Cup?

It won’t be an understatement to say that Sanju Samson has been underutilised by the team management in the Asia Cup 2025. Before the tournament, he was the preferred opening partner for Abhishek Sharma, but with Shubman Gill’s arrival, he was pushed down in the pecking order. 

Despite being in the playing XI in the first two matches, Samson is yet to face a ball as the Men in Blue made light work of the UAE total in the tournament opener, and against Pakistan, he wasn’t even used as India lost just 3 wickets. But the big question arises - have the team management lost faith in Samson’s ability?.

Despite India losing three wickets vs Pakistan, there was no sign of Samson as India promoted Shivam Dube ahead of him. This indirectly gave a subtle hint that Gautam Gambhir and the management have more faith in others than the Kerala batter. What is the point of playing Samson at 6 when the team already has a designated finisher in Jitesh Sharma for that particular role?.

Samson has 522 runs in 17 matches as an opener in T20Is. Moreover, he has accumulated three hundreds which showcased his ability as an opener. Yet, despite stellar stats, the player has been underutilised to accommodate other stars.

Why no Jitesh at number 6?

For someone who had scored 261 runs with a strike rate of 176.35, Jitesh Sharma was expected to start ahead of Samson at the number 6 spot, but the first two matches gave an idea that the management is confused as to who is their best keeper.

What is the requirement of a number 6 batter in a T20I squad? The batter has to be good at finishing abilities, and has to play as an aggressor, a role that suited Jitesh more than Samson. Yet, the team decided not to play him in his designated finisher role in the Asia Cup.

In order to play Samson in the playing XI, and that too in an unwanted position, Team India is sacrificing both him and Jitesh. Neither of the two would be able to fulfil their potential, since one is playing in an unrecognisable position, and the other will warm the bench.