In a few days later Rohit Sharma Bid goodbye to test cricket, India was struck by another massive announcement –Virat Kohli Too much decided to move away from the longest format of the game. With more than a decade of dominance, composure and winning performance, Kohli leaves behind a massive void, especially in position n ° 4 – a place he made after the legendary Sachin Tendulkarretirement.
Since the release of Tendulkar in 2013, Kohli has occupied the crucial position n ° 4 in 99 of the 115 tests of India, becoming the spine of the range of strikers from India in all conditions. Its absence now requires Indian selectors and team management to hunt a successor that can anchor the sleeves and deliver in pressure situations.
The enigma n ° 4 of India: a battle between the shape and the adjustment
The replacement of a kohli caliber paste will not be easy. The recent home series against England in early 2024, where Kohli missed, underlined uncertainty. India has tried up to four strikers at n ° 4 –Kl Rahul, Shreyas Iyer, Rajat PatidarAnd Devdutt Padikkal– Without any of them who nails the role.
With a series of five games against England which is looming as the first assignment by India of the new cycle of the world testing championship, the pressure is exerted. The team needs clarity, but without obvious heir to the Throne of Kohli, place n ° 4 remains to be won.
“There are a lot of players who make their way in the Xi Playing, no one has a secure place at this stage. It is a process that will take some time”, “ said veteran paste Cheteshwar Pujara In a conversation with Espncricinfo.
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Chetehwar Pujara appoints his choice to succeed Virat Kohli at n ° 4
While weighing on the search for the next n ° 4 of India, Pujara has recognized the importance of the role, calling it a “position for your best dough”. He thinks that the next England tour will be a test field for potential candidates.
“We will need a few series to understand who is well suited to beat at n ° 4, because it is an important position. For the moment, I think it is always a place where the management of the team will have to understand who is the most suitable player”, “ Adding Pujara.
When asked if Shubman Gill, current n ° 3 of India and a future potential test captain, could be the answer, Pujara has not excluded it – but has remained cautious.
“He [Gill] is an option, certainly. But he hit No. 3, Shubman prefers to the new ball. He started as an opening match and now bats at No. 3. Going to n ° 4 means adapting to an older ball, and this is a big question at this stage, ” explained the veteran dough from India.
However, Pujara has recognized that if Gill works well in England at n ° 4, he could consolidate this role. He said: “If he beats in n ° 4 in England and if he can succeed in this position, then, yes, it can be n ° 4 for the Indian team.”
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