India vs England: Captain locks his spot, No.3 position still in contention

A crucial update about the Indian combination has arrived before the visitors take on the first India vs England Test at Headingley on Friday. The Headingley Test will kick off the new WTC Cycle for both the teams on June 20. The five-match series in England, however, is much more for India than just the start of another Test season. The England tour has been marked as India’s step into the new era, one that starts after the retirements of senior picks. Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma announced their retirements earlier in May this year, leaving crucial spots up for grabs in the Indian Test setup. Now, as the opening fixture nears, Rishabh Pant has provided a glimpse into the planned batting order.

India vs England: Shubman Gill to play at No.4, Rishabh Pant claims No.5

Following the retirements of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, the first puzzle to solve was to opt for the next leader. With Bumrah tending to his injury-prone back, the young Shubman Gill emerged as India’s new Test captain. Meanwhile, wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant claimed the vice-captaincy ahead of the India vs England series. To fill the voids in the batting order, created by the departure of two pillars of the Test batting lineup, the management called up Karun Nair, Sai Sudharsan, and Abhimanyu Easwaran.

Ahead of the team’s departure for England, head coach Gautam Gambhir and the newly announced captain Shubman Gill addressed the press. Upon being queried about their batting order for the crucial series, the captain-coach duo explained that it would shape up following some practice sessions. Now, India A has completed its two unofficial matches against England Lions and have also played an intra-squad match against the main squad. For India A, Karun Nair announced his return to the national setup with a double ton.

Now, just a day before India vs England kicks off at Headingley, the Indian vice-captain Rishabh Pant addressed the media. The second lead confirmed a part of the batting order, as selected by the management. Shubman Gill, who batted at No.3 earlier when Virat Kohli handled the No.4 spot, has demoted himself in the order. Gill has been confirmed to play at the fourth spot on the England tour. Gill’s settlement at four leaves the third spot open, and the contention remains among Nair, Easwaran, and Sudharsan.

“I think there is still discussion going on for No.3. But No.4 and 5 are fixed. Shubman is going to bat at No.4, and I'm going to stay at No.5 as of now. Rest, we will keep discussing,” Pant told the media.

Rishabh Pant also confirmed that he will be coming in at No.5. Ahead of the series, a larger consensus anticipated for Gill to move down to the fourth spot and Pant to sixth. The spots open would make way for Sai Sudharsan at three and Karun Nair at fifth. However, as Pant has claimed the fifth spot, it has left the order a bit puzzled. Whether India calls up Karun Nair to bat at three or play him down the order is up for debate. Nair, with his credentials in the domestic circuit and more recently with India A, has placed himself as a middle-order pick.

However, if the management is keen on handing the debut cap to Sai Sudharsan, there would emerge a puddle over whom to give a spot in the top three. Meanwhile, another update from the Indian camp, arriving right ahead of the first India vs England Test, is the addition of Harshit Rana in the squad. The pacer went to England as a part of the India A squad but was asked to stay back for the first Test. Jasprit Bumrah has also confirmed his availability for the opening Test, and the circumstances behind Rana’s sudden call-up remain unclear at the moment.