India, Dec. 10 -- After backing Sanju Samson, primarily an opener in limited-overs cricket, as a middle-order option during the Asia Cup, India shifted course midway through the Australia tour in October. They opted for a specialist finisher instead, picking fellow wicketkeeper Jitesh Sharma for the last three games. On Tuesday, with Jitesh preferred for the fourth straight time over Samson in the opening match of the South Africa series in Cuttack, India all but confirmed their plan for the T20 World Cup.

The confirmation no longer elicited criticism, nor were there questions about why Samson was being ignored repeatedly. Instead, former India cricketers Deep Dasgupta and Irfan Pathan agreed with the strategy, calling it a "fair" call, ...