Sanju Samson was India’s highest run-getter in T20Is last year as he formed a formidable opening partnership with Abhishek Sharma. Samson scored 436 runs from 12 innings at a strike-rate of 180.16. However, a couple of months before the T20 World Cup, he finds himself out from the playing XI with Indian team management increasingly leaning on Jitesh Sharma as their first-choice wicketkeeper-batter in the format.

Why?

Well, the return of Shubman Gill as opener and the team backing him to the hilt means Samson was first demoted in the batting order and with limited success in the middle-order, he has lost his place to Jitesh who is known for his finishing skills.

On Tuesday, Jitesh was again preferred with Samson watching from the sidelines as the former struck an unbeaten 10 off five dur

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