NEW DELHI: If starting with Jitesh Sharma in the last three T20s in Australia seemed like a trial run, his selection ahead of fellow wicket keeper batter Sanju Samson in the series opener against South Africa offered clearer insight into the team management’s plans for the World Cup at home.

The think tank can hardly be faulted for choosing a specialist lower order finisher over Samson, who lost his place at the top of the order through no fault of his own after Shubman Gill returned to the shortest format. Since then, he has found it tough to break into the eleven.

Jitesh, who often describes his finishing job as his bread and butter, looks set to begin the T20 World Cup for India unless a drastic dip in form comes in the upcoming series against South Africa and New Zealand.

At this moment, it is also tough to look beyond Samson and Jitesh as the keeping options in the squad. And do the selectors need a different direction here?

"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.

"Jitesh is a specialist in that regard," former India wicket keeper 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 reckoned.

Arshdeep and Kuldeep: Only one can play

The selection on Tuesday night also underlined how difficult it is to fit both Arshdeep Singh and Kuldeep Yadav in the eleven if India want batting till number eight.

In spin friendly conditions during the UAE event, Arshdeep, India’s leading wicket taker, was benched for most of the games, raising some questions.

He returned for three of the five matches Down Under and then made an instant impact in the series opener against the Proteas in Cuttack, removing the dangerous opener caught behind with a fine outswinger.

The left arm pacer’s death overs control also remains a rare asset in this format.

With Arshdeep included, another big match winner Kuldeep Yadav had to sit out.

In the ODI series, Kuldeep had produced wickets even in heavy dew, once again showing his immense worth to the setup.

"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)," said Dasgupta, who is part of the commentary panel for the ongoing series.

Overall, the side doesn’t need major repairs ahead of the World Cup but the lack of runs from skipper Suryakumar Yadav is becoming a point of concern. Vice captain Shubman Gill too could use a few solid knocks.

"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," he 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)," Dasgupta added.

(With PTI Inputs)