With Virat Kohli’s retirement from Test cricket ahead of the 2025 England series, India faces a significant challenge in restructuring its batting lineup. An Indian retired professional cricketer cum former opener Wasim Jaffer has offered his insights, suggesting continuity at the top and strategic changes in the middle order.
Jaffer emphasizes the importance of maintaining the successful opening partnership of KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal, stating, “KL should continue to open.” He believes that altering this duo could disrupt the team’s stability, especially given their performance in the recent Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
Wasim Jaffer Advocates for KL Rahul to Open, Suggests Shubman Gill as India’s New No. 4
Jaffer has suggested that Shubman Gill should shift from the No. 3 position to No. 4 to take over the role vacated by Virat Kohli, who announced his retirement from Test cricket ahead of the 2025-27 World Test Championship (WTC) cycle. He stated,
“I guess Shubman could be the guy. He opens in white-ball cricket, but in Test cricket, he needs to move down to 4. KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal have done well as openers in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. I feel KL should continue to open. Why change something that is not broken?”
KL Rahul has accumulated 2,803 runs as an opener in 83 Test innings, maintaining an average of 35.04. His tally includes seven centuries and 14 fifties. In contrast, his brief experience at the No. 4 spot includes 108 runs from just two innings, with a highest score of 86.
On the other hand, Shubman Gill has yet to feature at No. 4 in Tests. While batting at No. 3, the right-hander has scored 1,019 runs across 30 innings at an average of 37.74, which includes three centuries. As an opener, he has managed 874 runs from 29 innings at an average of 32.37.
To fill the void at No. 4 left by Kohli, Jaffer recommends moving Shubman Gill from No. 3 to No. 4. He notes,
“Shubman could be the guy. He opens in white-ball cricket, but in Test cricket, he needs to move down to 4.” For the No. 3 position, Jaffer suggests giving Sai Sudharsan, a Gujarat Titans opener, an extended opportunity, citing his composed demeanor and impressive domestic performances,”
Sai Sudharsan has accumulated 1,957 runs in 49 first-class innings, including seven centuries As India prepares for the five-match Test series in England starting June 20, these proposed changes aim to ensure a smooth transition and maintain the team’s competitive edge.