India’s Test captain Shubman Gill will take on the prestigious No. 4 role in the upcoming first Test against England at Headingley, Leeds, starting Friday.
This announcement was made by vice-captain and wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant during a pre-match press conference on Wednesday, putting to rest widespread speculation over the batting order following Virat Kohli’s retirement from the longest format.
"Some debate is still on regarding the No. 3 position," Pant said to the media. "But No. 4 and 5 are finalized. I believe Shubman will play at No. 4, and I am going to remain at No. 5 for the moment. The others, we are going to continue debating."
Gill's entry into the No. 4 spot marks a significant shift in India's Test lineup. The position, previously occupied by legends like Sachin Tendulkar and recently Virat Kohli, has traditionally been regarded as the anchor of the batting order. Gill, who had earlier shifted from No. 3 following an up-and-down stint as an opener, now seems set to accept this new role at the center of the Indian batting order.
The No. 3 position, however, is still to be filled. Seasoned Karun Nair, who scored his triple-century against England in 2016, is one of the top contenders. Youngbie B Sai Sudharsan too is on the radar and might make his debut.
If Sudharsan is included in the playing XI, he would most likely come in at No. 3. Or if India decides to fill up the team with three all-rounders, Karun Nair might take his place so that players such as Nitish Reddy, Ravindra Jadeja, and Shardul Thakur can bolster the middle and lower order.
With Gautam Gambhir at the top as the new head coach, India is likely to implement a brasher, more flexible strategy. More details on the team's eventual make-up are likely to emerge when captain Gill speaks to the media before the match.
