As India gear up for the high-stakes five-Test series against England starting June 20 at Leeds, all eyes are on the vacant No. 4 batting position — usually reserved for Virat Kohli, who is missing the start of the series due to personal reasons.
Rishabh Pant Breaks the Silence
In a pre-match press conference, Rishabh Pant, making a long-awaited return to international cricket, confirmed who will fill the crucial No. 4 role.
“We’ve decided to back Shubman Gill at No. 4. He’s shown great temperament and adaptability,” said Pant.
What makes Shubman Gill?
Despite being an opener by trade, Gill was recently demoted to No. 3 and now replaces Kohli at No. 4, a decision that is thought to be a part of India’s long-term middle-order development. Team management feels that he is a perfect fit for this role because of his technical solidity and form.
What About the Rest of the Line-up?
With Pant back behind the stumps, India’s likely top five for the first Test looks like:
Rohit Sharma (C)
Yashasvi Jaiswal
Cheteshwar Pujara or KL Rahul
Shubman Gill
Rishabh Pant (WK)
An Examination of Depth
India’s batting order is up against a tough test with England’s pace attack prepared and Kohli out of the game. But with Pant and Gill stepping into leadership roles, Team India is signaling confidence, not concern. Stay tuned — June 20 could mark the beginning of a new chapter in Indian Test cricket.
