Shubman Gill Takes on New Role as India's No. 4 Batsman in Test Series Against England

Shubman Gill's New Challenge

Emerging cricket star Shubman Gill is gearing up for a significant challenge as he prepares to debut as the Test captain for India in the upcoming five-match series against England. He will also be stepping into the crucial No. 4 batting position, with the first match scheduled at Headingley in Leeds.

Aakash Chopra, a former cricketer turned commentator, expressed his views on this shift, describing it as an unusual decision in Test cricket where a player opts to bat lower in the order. Throughout his 32-Test career, Gill has primarily played as an opener or occasionally at No. 3.

With the retirement of Virat Kohli leaving a notable gap at No. 4, Gill has taken the initiative to fill this role. On his YouTube channel, Chopra noted how rare it is for players, particularly openers, to move down the batting order in red-ball cricket.

Chopra stated, 'It’s now confirmed that the captain will bat at No. 4. Shubman’s path is quite distinctive, transitioning from an opener to No. 4. In Test cricket, it’s uncommon for someone to shift down the order after starting as an opener.'

He also pointed out a trend in Indian cricket where most players tend to ascend the batting order as their careers advance. Citing examples like Sachin Tendulkar and Virat Kohli, Chopra highlighted that both began their careers lower in the order before taking on the No. 4 position. Conversely, players like Virender Sehwag and Rohit Sharma were elevated to open and maintained that role throughout their Test careers.

'Typically, players move up the order over time. A batter might start at No. 5 or 6 and eventually settle at 3 or 4. However, transitioning from opener to middle-order is quite rare. I can’t recall many instances of this happening, especially in the Indian team in recent years,' he added.