Virat Kohli’s decision to retire from Test cricket leaves a significant gap in India’s batting line-up, sparking discussions about who will take over the crucial No. 4 spot. According to Cheteshwar Pujara, it might take a few series to determine the best candidate for this role.
Pujara explained to ESPNcricinfo, “We will need a couple of series to figure out who is well suited to bat at No. 4, because it’s an important position. You need your best batter to bat at No. 4. And at this time, I think it’s still a spot where the team management will have to figure out who is the most suited player.”
Such uncertainty hasn’t been faced by India for over a decade. Of the 115 Tests since Sachin Tendulkar’s retirement, Kohli played at No. 4 in 99 of them. Ajinkya Rahane, who has batted nine times in that position, trails behind him. In Kohli’s absence during a home series against England in early 2024, India experimented with KL Rahul, Shreyas Iyer, Rajat Patidar, and Devdutt Padikkal at No. 4.
Pujara, who took the No. 4 slot in seven Tests from 2015 to 2023, suggests patience in making this decision. “There are a lot of players who are making their way into the playing XI; no one has a secured spot at this stage. It’s a process which will take some time,” he added.
India’s first series in the post-Kohli era will be a five-match tour of England in June, marking the beginning of the new ICC World Test Championship cycle. This tour could be pivotal in deciding who might succeed Kohli at No. 4. “It’s still early days to make a call, but it will be important to see who performs well in England because someone who can perform well in England can have that No. 4 spot,” Pujara noted.
Shubman Gill emerges as one of the primary contenders for the No. 4 position. “He [Gill] is an option, definitely. But he has been batting at No. 3,” Pujara stated. “Does he want to shift his spot? Does he want to bat at No. 4? We’ll have to see.”
Gill’s preference for facing the new ball is notable, having opened the innings early in his career before moving to No. 3. He has yet to bat outside the top three in his 32 Tests since debuting in December 2020. Pujara opines that Gill is ideally suited for the top order but doesn’t dismiss the possibility of him succeeding at No. 4.
“Since he has batted well with the new ball, I would still say that he should be batting in [the] top three, which is his ideal position, which suits him well,” Pujara said. “If he bats at No. 4 in England and if he can be successful at that position, then, yes, he can be a No. 4 for the Indian team.”
The upcoming tour will likely be a testing ground for potential successors to Kohli, as India navigates this significant transition.
Yash Jha contributes as a content producer and presenter for ESPNcricinfo.
