Shubman Gill to Bat at Number Four for India in Upcoming Test Series Against England

Shubman Gill's New Role in the Batting Order

As India prepares for the eagerly awaited Test series against England, commencing on June 20 in Leeds, Shubman Gill has confirmed his position as the number four batsman in the lineup.

Discussing this change in his batting role, Gill stated, "Following Virat (Kohli) bhai's retirement, I had a conversation with GG (Gautam Gambhir) bhai, and he expressed his desire for me to bat at number four, which I was also keen on."

Gill Takes Over Kohli's Batting Position

The number four position, once held by Virat Kohli, is crucial in India's Test batting order. Gill's technical skills and ability to remain calm under pressure position him well to uphold this legacy.

India will depend on Gill's current form to stabilize the innings against a formidable English bowling lineup, particularly in conditions that may pose challenges for players from the subcontinent.

Gill's Performance and Legacy

Previously batting at number three, Shubman participated in 17 matches, scoring 1,019 runs at an average of 37.74, including three centuries and three fifties, all achieved on home soil.

In seven Tests played in overseas conditions, Gill has accumulated only 212 runs at an average of 19.27. Beyond his captaincy duties, he is tasked with elevating the number four position, a role famously occupied by legends like Virat Kohli and Sachin Tendulkar.

Team Updates and Expectations

Rishabh Pant, the former vice-captain, has confirmed he will maintain his position at number five in the upcoming five Tests, while Shubman Gill steps into the number four role vacated by Kohli.

Following Kohli's retirement from Test cricket last month, there was much speculation regarding who would assume the responsibilities of the number four position, historically held by the iconic Sachin Tendulkar.

India's Squad for the Series

India's squad: Shubman Gill (c), Rishabh Pant (wk), Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Sai Sudharsan, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Karun Nair, Nitish Reddy, Ravindra Jadeja, Dhruv Jurel (wk), Washington Sundar, Shardul Thakur, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammad Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Akash Deep, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav, Harshit Rana.

England's Lineup for the First Test

England Playing XI for the 1st Test against India: Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (C), Jamie Smith (WK), Chris Woakes, Brydon Carse, Josh Tongue, Shoaib Bashir.