As India gears up to face England in the highly anticipated Test series starting June 20, all eyesare on one pivotal spot in the batting order — the No. 4 position, long considered the backboneof India’s Test lineup. For nearly two decades, this spot was occupied by none other than thelegendary Sachin Tendulkar, who played 179 Tests in that position and remains the highestrun-scorer in Test cricket history.
After Tendulkar’s retirement, Virat Kohli seamlessly carried the mantle, anchoring India’smiddle order with unmatched passion and consistency across 99 Tests. Now, with Kohli steppingaway from the longest format, Indian cricket finds itself at the cusp of a generational shift — andthe question everyone’s asking is: who next?
That question seems to have found a temporary answer.
Ahead of the first Test at Lord’s, India’s vice-captain Rishabh Pant revealed in a press interactionthat Shubman Gill will be taking up the crucial No. 4 position, while Pant himself will bat at No.5. “We share a good understanding and friendship, which I believe will translate into a solidpartnership on the field,” said Pant, expressing full confidence in their chemistry.
Though the No. 3 spot remains undecided, the spotlight remains firmly on Gill — the elegantright-hander hailed as a future star since his U-19 days. Former head coach Ravi Shastri, in fact,had already endorsed Gill as the natural successor to Kohli at No. 4 when the latter announcedhis retirement from Tests earlier this year.
Gill, who has shown promise across formats, now faces one of the most defining phases of hiscareer. If he succeeds in this role, he won’t just be filling a void — he’ll be stepping into alineage that includes two of India’s greatest batters in history.
As the new era begins tomorrow at Lord’s, Indian cricket fans will be watching closely — notjust to see how the team fares in English conditions, but to witness whether Shubman Gill canrise to the legacy left behind by legends.
