India vs England: Who will bat at No. 3 for India?

Former India batting coach and seasoned analyst Sanjay Bangar has weighed in on India's batting order ahead of the upcoming Test series against England, set to begin on Friday, June 20, at Headingley in Leeds. With the team entering a transitional phase following the retirement of Virat Kohli, Bangar shared his thoughts on how the new-look batting line-up should shape up, particularly around the pivotal No. 3 and No. 4 spots. Bangar believes that neither Shubman Gill nor Karun Nair should be slotted at No. 3 in the batting order. Instead, he suggested that Gill, who has been entrusted with the Test captaincy, could be better suited to batting at No. 4 — the position vacated by Kohli.

India vs England: Sanjay Bangar picks India's No.3 batter

According to Sanjay Bangar, Gill has the technique and temperament to handle that responsibility and could anchor the innings from that position, offering stability to the middle order. As for the No. 3 role, Bangar didn’t mention a specific candidate but implied that it demands a player capable of soaking up early pressure and setting the tone for the innings. With a relatively young and evolving batting line-up, Bangar’s suggestion reflects the importance of strategic positioning and easing the burden on new leaders like Gill.

Sanjay Bangar, former India batting coach, has suggested two strong contenders for the vital No. 3 spot in the upcoming Test series against England — Sai Sudharsan and Abhimanyu Easwaran. With Virat Kohli’s retirement leaving a major gap in the top order, Bangar believes it’s important to slot in a specialist who can handle the demands of that crucial position. He feels that both Sudharsan and Easwaran have the temperament and technique required to bat at No. 3, especially in challenging English conditions.

Sudharsan, known for his composure and stroke play, has made waves in domestic and franchise cricket, while Easwaran brings solid experience from the India A setup and county stints. Bangar’s recommendation comes as part of a broader reshuffle, where he also backed Shubman Gill to take over the No. 4 role. With a young squad in place, these batting choices could shape India’s new Test core.

"I think none of them in my book (Gill or Karun at No. 3?). If at all Karun is playing, he would bat slightly lower down the order. All indications are that Shubman Gill may bat at No. 4. So, the toss up at No. 3 is going to be between Sai Sudharsan and Abhimanyu Easwaran. Easwaran also got a good score in one of the practice matches they played," stated former Indian cricketer Sanjay Bangar. 

Sanjay Bangar believes that Karun Nair, who recently made headlines with a brilliant double century in the first unofficial Test between India A and the England Lions in Canterbury, could be a valuable asset in the lower middle order. Rather than placing him higher up the batting line-up, Bangar feels Nair would be best suited to the No. 6 position, slotting in just after wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant.

This approach, according to Bangar, would allow India to maintain balance in the batting unit while also easing Nair into a more flexible role where he can play both defensively and aggressively, depending on the match situation. Nair’s experience, coupled with his recent form, could provide much-needed solidity in the latter part of the innings. His presence at No. 6 would also add depth to the line-up and offer resilience in case of early top-order setbacks against England’s potent pace attack.

As India gears up for the opening Test against England, there are still some questions surrounding the composition of the seam-bowling attack. Jasprit Bumrah is expected to lead the pace unit, likely joined by Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna, forming a potent trio. However, Arshdeep Singh and Akash Deep are also in contention and will be keen to impress in the upcoming intra-squad match in Kent, hoping to give the team management a welcome selection dilemma with strong performances.

Adding to the options are seam-bowling all-rounders Nitish Kumar Reddy and Shardul Thakur, both of whom delivered steady performances during the two unofficial Tests between India A and the England Lions. Their ability to contribute with both bat and ball makes them valuable assets, especially in English conditions. With a balanced squad at their disposal, the final bowling combination will likely depend on the conditions at Headingley and players' form during the warm-up game.