IND vs SA 2025: Leaving out Sanju Samson for Jitesh Sharma 'right call'. says former India wicketkeeper

Former India wicketkeeper-batter Deep Dasgupta has explained why picking Jitesh Sharma over Sanju Samson is the correct call. Jitesh was preferred over Samson for the first T20I of the ongoing five-match series against South Africa.

Dasgupta, who represented India in 13 matches , explained that Jitesh is more of a full-time middle-order batter than Samson. He also mentioned that the team will not want to make a lot of changes in personnel before the T20 World Cup next year.

"It is the right call. If Sanju is not in the 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. Jitesh is a specialist in that regard. Nine games to go (before the T20 World Cup 2026), I don't see too many changes ahead of the T20 World Cup," stated Dasgupta, as quoted by India Today.

Like Dasgupta, many others have advocated India to stick with Jitesh while considering Samson as a backup alternative for when an injury occurs.

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Jitesh did not disappoint with the gloves during the T20I series-opening clash at the Barabati Stadium in Cuttack on December 9. After an unbeaten 5-ball 10-run cameo at the end of the first innings, he contributed with four catches behind the stumps. South Africa were bundled out for 74 in 12.3 overs. Hardik Pandya secured the Player of the Match award for his unbeaten 28-ball 59-run innings.

It is believed that the management will stick with Jitesh in the XI over Samson going ahead. India will take on New Zealand in a five-match T20I series next year. Many experts have predicted that India will have a more-or-less unchanged XI for that series ahead of the following mega event to follow.