Shubman Gill to Bat at No. 4 in England Tests, Confirms Rishabh Pant
In a major development ahead of India’s Test tour of England, Rishabh Pant has confirmed that Shubman Gill will bat at No. 4 in the upcoming five-match Test series. This decision marks a significant shift in India’s batting structure and comes at a time when the team is entering a new phase of red-ball cricket with a relatively young core.
Pant shared the update during a press conference on June 18, as reported by ESPNcricinfo. While the No. 3 spot is still undecided, Pant revealed that the No. 4 and 5 positions are locked in—with Gill at 4 and Pant himself batting at 5.
“I think there is still discussion going on, who’s going to play three, but definitely four and five are fixed. I think Shubman is going to bat at number four, and I am going to stick to number five as of now, and the rest, we are going to keep on discussing about that,” Pant said.
This will be the first time that Gill, who has primarily opened the innings in his Test career so far, will be taking up the No. 4 slot. The move carries emotional and symbolic weight, as this is the position long held by modern-day legends Sachin Tendulkar and Virat Kohli. After Kohli’s departure from Test cricket earlier this year, speculations grew around who would be trusted with this pivotal position. The team management’s choice of Shubman Gill signals their belief in his temperament, adaptability, and long-term potential.
Over the years, India’s No. 4 has been more than just a number—it has been a pillar of consistency and class. Tendulkar made it his own for over two decades, and Kohli continued the legacy with his unmatched dominance in the format. Gill, often hailed as the “Prince of Indian Cricket,” now carries that torch, as the team looks to build a new core for the next WTC cycle.
The uncertainty around the No. 3 spot is also creating buzz, and the leading candidate appears to be Karun Nair. Having recently made a sensational comeback to red-ball cricket with Vidarbha, and backed by strong performances in domestic cricket, Nair is in contention to fill the crucial one-down role previously held by Gill.
As India prepares for a testing tour in England, the new-look batting order will be under close scrutiny. With Gill stepping into the legendary No. 4 role and Pant confirming his slot at 5, the onus is now on the management to finalize the ideal candidate for No. 3.
