India vs Sri Lanka: Final Super 4 Match Offers Chance to Test Jitesh Sharma as Finisher

 

Dubai, September 25 (PTI) – With Sanju Samson struggling to find a place in India’s middle order, head coach Gautam Gambhir and the team management may use the final Super 4 game against Sri Lanka in the Asia Cup as an opportunity to assess Jitesh Sharma’s potential as a finisher.

 

India have already secured their spot in the final after beating Bangladesh, while Sri Lanka, having lost both Super 4 matches to Bangladesh and Pakistan, will play only to complete formalities. The stage is set for a possible India-Pakistan showdown in the final on Sunday.

 

Middle-Order Concerns

 

Samson’s inconsistent performances continue to worry the management, alongside India’s fielding lapses. The team has dropped ten catches in the tournament so far, including five against Bangladesh, which could have been costly in a high-pressure game. Mystery spinner Varun Chakravarthy acknowledged the need for improvement in catching but noted that Dubai Stadium’s floodlight design can sometimes affect visibility.

 

“At this level, there are no excuses. As a team, we must take all the catches. We have qualified for the finals and must execute better,” said Chakravarthy, who picked up wickets against Bangladesh but also saw chances go unclaimed.

 

Batting Adjustments

 

Samson’s position in the batting order remains uncertain. Against Bangladesh, he was not considered among the top seven, prompting questions about his role in the side. Shivam Dube’s promotion to No. 4 aimed to optimize match-ups against wrist spinners and maintain a left-right combination, with Hardik Pandya coming ahead of him along with Tilak Varma and Axar Patel. Fielding coach Ryan ten Doeschate highlighted Samson’s struggle to settle at No. 5.

 

There is a possibility Samson could be promoted to No. 3 against Sri Lanka, but such moves are complicated as he lacks the ability to attack consistently in the back-end overs when conditions slow down. His fifty against Oman was described as scratchy, reinforcing concerns about his suitability for the finisher role.

 

Jitesh Sharma: Ready-Made Option

 

Jitesh Sharma offers a proven solution as a middle-order slogger. His IPL record over the past few seasons shows strong performances in different positions:

 

At No. 5: 18 innings, 374 runs from 253 balls, strike rate 147.8

 

At No. 6: 15 innings, 384 runs from 230 balls, strike rate 167

 

At No. 7: 7 innings, 136 runs from 76 balls, strike rate 178.9

 

 

These numbers suggest Jitesh is well-suited to the finisher role, whereas Samson is being asked to perform out of character. However, Gambhir appears reluctant to make immediate changes, meaning Jitesh may have to wait for his opportunity.