One spot, two match-winners: Arsh or Kul — Why India can fit only one Deep in T20Is | Cricket News
India’s team selection in the first T20I against South Africa underlined two key choices as the World Cup at home approaches. One was the continued preference for Jitesh Sharma over Sanju Samson as wicketkeeper. The other was the clear message that the current approach allows space for only one among Arshdeep Singh and Kuldeep Yadav in the playing XI.Jitesh’s run in the last three T20Is in Australia may have looked like a trial, but his selection ahead of Samson in the series opener against South Africa showed what the team management is prioritising. With Shubman Gill returning to the T20 side and occupying a top-order slot, Samson has found it hard to fit into the XI. The team has leaned towards a lower-order option instead.
Jitesh is likely to start the T20 World Cup unless his form drops in the remaining matches against South Africa and New Zealand. At present, the wicketkeeping options appear limited to Jitesh and Samson, with the team management not looking beyond the two.“It is the right call. If Sanju is not in top three and if the keeper is batting in the middle order you rather play a specialist, a lower order batter than a top order batter. It is not easy batting for two balls or four balls,” Dasgupta was quoted as saying by news agency PTI.“Jitesh is a specialist in that regard,” former India wicketkeeper Deep Dasgupta told PTI.“Nine games to go (before World Cup), I don’t see too many changes ahead of the T20 World Cup,” he said.
Arshdeep or Kuldeep: Only one can play
The selection also highlighted another issue: fitting both Arshdeep Singh and Kuldeep Yadav into the XI is difficult if the team wants batting till number eight.In spin-friendly conditions in the UAE during the Asia cup, Arshdeep, India’s leading wicket-taker in the format, was left out for most matches. He featured in three of the five games in Australia and made an impact in the first T20I against South Africa in Cuttack, taking a catch-behind wicket with an outswinger. His role at the death remains a key factor in his favour.With Arshdeep in the side, Kuldeep was left out of the XI. In the preceding ODI series, Kuldeep had taken wickets even with heavy dew.“It is unfortunate (picking between Arshdeep and Kuldeep). The way Arshdeep is bowling (you have to pick him). He is the highest wicket-taker for you in the format. You would want to have both ideally but you can’t (with batting needed till 8),” Dasgupta said.Overall, the team does not need major changes before the World Cup, but the lack of runs from captain Suryakumar Yadav has started to draw attention. Vice-captain Shubman Gill has also not scored freely.“The win last night showed how good India is especially when it is not a watch the ball hit the ball pitch (Cuttack was a sticky surface). It says a lot about their depth,” Dasgupta said.“(on SKY and Gill) I would not say a concern but ideally you would want to see them get runs. One you start thinking about runs, the chances are you won’t bat freely.“With Surya, it is not one series, we have not seen the best of him since he took over captaincy (last year),” he added.
