Virat Kohli’s Test retirement has left a big void in the Indian team ahead of the marquee England tour, slated to start on June 20 in Leeds.
No.4 batting position in the Indian Test side has been reserved for the team's best batter for nearly three decades. Before Kohli, the legendary Sachin Tendulkar owned that spot as he retired from the traditional format with 15921 runs and 51 centuries to his name.
When Tendulkar retired in 2013, Kohli was given the responsibility to bat at No. 4 and he did his best to fill in the big shoes. The 36-year-old finished his Test career with 9230 runs at an average of 46.85 from 123 matches, including 30 centuries and 31 fifties, with the highest score of 254.
Now that Kohli has called time on his Test career, it remains to be seen who will carry the legacy of No. 4 in the Indian line-up.
Meanwhile, legendary spinner Anil Kumble has put his faith on domestic stalwart Karun Nair to do the job.
"I don't think anybody thought through who's gonna bat at No.4. Rohit in Australia didn't play the first Test, so there was a change in the batting order. Once Rahul did well, Rohit dropped down the order and then he dropped himself from the XI in that last Test. So you sort of know who is the backup opener for India, but I don't think anyone thought through No.4," Kumble told ESPNCricinfo.
"Karun deserves to come back into the Indian team with the kind of domestic run he has had. So perhaps he could be the No.4 for India because I feel, you need a bit of experience. You need someone in England who has been there and done that. He has played County cricket, so he knows the conditions. Karun may be on the other side of 30, but he is still young. If he gets an opportunity, there will be a lot more hope for youngsters to play first-class cricket. If the sheer performance in domestic cricket doesn't get recognised, it becomes a bit of a challenge," he added.
Karun Nair, 33, has been on a run-breaking spree in domestic cricket. After a record run in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, where he amassed 779 runs in nine games at 389.50, including five centuries, Nair carried his momentum into red-ball cricket, where he scored 860 runs at 57.33, comprising four tons, including a match-winning knock of 135 and 85 in the final in Vidarbha's Ranji title win.
If not Karun Nair, India have the option of trying out KL Rahul at No.4. Then there are the less likely prospects of trying Shreyas Iyer or Sarfaraz Khan at that position.
If India do decide to play either Rahul or Shubman Gill at No.4 then they would have to try out a new player at the top of the order and Tamil Nadu batter Sai Sudharsan can be a good option for that spot.
"There are youngsters like Sai Sudharsan. What you tend to do is mix formats. General public watching and social media exchanges, I hope people don't mix one-day cricket or T20 cricket with Test matches. People who have done well in first-class cricket should certainly be given the opportunity to play for India. And I'm sure he selectors, when they sit down, will start looking at the future," Kumble remarked.
