Former Indian spinner Murali Kartik believes Team India has a problem of plenty for the Asia Cup as they have multiple players for a single role. With Shubman Gill been appointed as the vice-captain of the T20I team, he is expected to play ahead of Sanju Samson.
Looking at the training sessions, Jitesh Sharma could be given the wicket-keeping gloves ahead of Samson. Sharma could bat at either six or seven and Kartik noted that Rinku Singh used to bat at that position. Thus, Singh’s place in the final XI is doubtful despite been in red-hot form in the UP T20 league while leading Meerut Mavericks.
Murali Kartik said on Cricbuzz, “Rinku has been your standout performer at that number. He’s been Icerink. 100% (It is a problem of plenty for India). Sometimes you are playing the conditions as well. The last time we went to Dubai, everybody was complaining that India has so many spinners. Even now, we have some quality spinners, quality all-rounders. It is the problem of plenty which we are talking about.”
“Reports we are getting is that Jitesh Sharma is getting a lot of practice as a wicketkeeper, and now that Shubman Gill is in the team, he’s been elevated to vice-captaincy, and the kind of form he has shown for the Gujarat Titans, he’s a class act. So if he gets to play, think of all the other permutations and combinations you need to come up with. Think of Rinku Singh. Does he get a game?”
Kartik reckons head coach Gautam Gambhir and chief selector Ajit Agarkar will find a solution to India’s problem of plenty.
“The number of names Harsha mentioned, maybe there are a few more that we are missing. That is what Gautam Gambhir has to contend with. That is what Ajit Agarkar has to contend with. It is just a good place to be. I know that, at the end of the day, too many options are also a problem because you are trying to get the best fit there. But you would rather have that than not have the options. It will take a while, but I am pretty sure the braintrust will get it right in the end,” Kartik said.
India, eight-time Asia Cup champions, open their campaign against the UAE at the Dubai International Stadium on September 10.
