India’s Dubai Nets Hint A Tough Call On Sanju Samson

India’s first full training in Dubai offered an early clue in the wicketkeeper debate, and it wasn’t great news for Sanju Samson. During an extended session at the ICC Academy, Jitesh Sharma spent a long stretch on glovework while Samson’s time in the middle was brief, with little to no fielding work. With Shubman Gill back alongside Abhishek Sharma at the top, the opening slot where Samson has looked most dangerous may not be available. If day one is any guide, India could be leaning toward Jitesh as the first-choice keeper for the UAE opener.

What the drills said without saying it

The top order went in waves: Gill and Abhishek batted together, Suryakumar Yadav followed, and Rinku Singh and Tilak Varma worked on range-hitting for the finishing overs. In parallel, Jitesh kept for an extended period, took throws, and shadowed match situations behind the stumps. Jasprit Bumrah and Arshdeep Singh cycled through new-ball and death plans, while Hardik Pandya and Shivam Dube added seam overs. Among spinners, Varun Chakaravarthy bowled the longest spell, then shifted to catching with the support staff—tidying an area he’s been working on.

What it could mean for the UAE game

Reading too much into one session can backfire, but teams usually rehearse the combinations they expect to use first. A longer wicketkeeping workload for Jitesh hints he may start, especially with India prioritising a designated finisher who can also keep. Samson’s strongest recent T20I returns have come as an opener, and with Gill–Abhishek likely paired, a middle-order role becomes a tougher fit. The management could still pivot based on match-ups, but the first look suggests Samson might be the spare batter-keeper for the opener.

The wider plan under Gambhir

The theme from camp is clear and simple: bring something new every time—an extra gear with the bat, a sharper throw, a smarter slower ball. Suryakumar Yadav looks set to hold No. 4, with the top order chasing fast starts and the middle aiming to attack spin in overs 7–15. Bowlers are tuning pace-off options for UAE evenings, and fielding drills are geared toward quick pickups on skiddy outfields. Samson remains very much in the mix; competition is fierce, and a single standout net or game can swing roles fast.

What to watch before the toss

• Does Samson get longer keeping reps in the next session, or do India double down on Jitesh’s load?

• Do Gill and Abhishek continue batting together every block, locking the opening template?

• Are India rehearsing a left-right balance in the middle (Tilak/Rinku) to tackle opposition leg-spin?