An out-of-form Sanju Samson is a major concern in India’s inconsequential Asia Cup Super 4 match against Sri Lanka on Friday. Sri Lanka, who have been ousted from the tournament after losing both their Super 4 matches against Bangladesh and Pakistan, will be playing for pride against a superior Indian team, which would be looking to extend their unbeaten run in the Asia Cup going into the final.

The only other worry for India, except for Samson’s lost touch, could be the 10 catches they dropped in the last two matches as the fielding of the Men in Blue left a lot to be desired.

Spinner Varun Chakravarthy, who suffered on account of dropped catches on many occasions, agreed that there is a lot of room for improvement in the team’s catching abilities.  “As a team, we have to definitely start catching all those because we have qualified for the finals and we should be taking all those catches,” he said, while giving benefit of doubt to fielders, considering that the Dubai Stadium’s floodlights resemble football stadium lights. “The floodlight design causes a bit of disturbance as it comes in the eyesight sometimes. We have to get acclimatised to it,” he added.

Also read: It’s do or die for Sri Lanka, Pak in crucial Super 4 tie

Samson did not even bat at Number 7 in the match against Bangladesh, which gives rise to the question as to what he is doing in the team if he is not good enough to come ahead of Axar Patel.

The promotion of Shivam Dube as No. 4 was understandable because of his “match-up” against wrist spinners, but it didn’t work in order to keep the left-right combination in the middle. Hardik Pandya was sent ahead of him, along with left-handers Tilak Varma and Axar. “Sanju is still figuring out how to bat at No. 5,” fielding coach Ryan ten Doeschate had said before the Bangladesh game.

Samson might again be promoted to No. 3 in the game against Sri Lanka, but might not retain that position in the final on Sunday. His past record might be preventing the team to drop him, although Jitesh Sharma fits well as a middle-order slogger and finisher, as evident from his impressive recent record. But Gambhir is not inclined to disturb the balance of the team by dropping Samson at this juncture.