Team India in Transition : Who Replaces Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma in Test Cricket?
India’s Test Cricket Future : India’s ‘Fab Five’ era—once defined by legends like Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, Sourav Ganguly, VVS Laxman, and Virat Kohli—is now well and truly a chapter in history. While Kohli’s team had revived some of that old Test match grit during the victorious 2018 Border-Gavaskar Trophy, his retirement from Test cricket, just five days after Rohit Sharma’s, has left the Indian Test setup on shaky ground.
With the selectors set to meet next week to pick the squad for the England series, a big question looms: who will step up in the absence of two generational batting leaders?
Shubman Gill’s Foreign Struggles Raise Questions
Shubman Gill, once touted as the next great thing in Indian batting, has failed to replicate his home form in overseas conditions. The management had previously decided not to recall Ajinkya Rahane or Cheteshwar Pujara. Now, with Rohit and Kohli both gone, the leadership vacuum at the top is daunting.
Gill’s overall overseas numbers are underwhelming—an average of just 19 in his last 12 Test innings abroad, with no half-centuries. While he has fared slightly better when opening (average 31.54), his role has been flexible, filling in at No. 3 in recent matches to replace Pujara, where he notched three centuries in the last 15 months.
Who Opens With Jaiswal?
One opener’s slot is almost certainly booked for Yashasvi Jaiswal, who has been India’s most consistent Test batter recently. With 1,798 runs in 19 Tests at an average of 52.88—including centuries abroad—he’s shown the temperament to succeed in tougher conditions. His average of 43.44 in Australia proves he can handle pace and bounce.
But the question remains: Who partners him? Will Gill return to his original opening slot? Or will KL Rahul step in, having opened during the recent Australia series?
Other Opening Options: Easwaran and Sudharsan
If the selectors decide to keep Gill at No. 3, two other names are in the frame: Bengal’s Abhimanyu Easwaran and Tamil Nadu’s Sai Sudharsan. Both have impressed with India A and are scheduled to travel with the India A team to England.
Sudharsan, in particular, earned praise for a composed County innings a few months ago. With the England tour expected to challenge India’s young batting unit, his county experience could prove valuable.
Replacing Virat Kohli at No. 4: The Toughest Job
Kohli’s absence at No. 4 is arguably the most glaring hole in India’s Test XI. For 12 years, that spot was undebated and untouchable. Now, it’s wide open.
KL Rahul remains a strong contender for the role. He’s been used across the batting order, and while not always spectacular, he’s rarely looked out of place. But if Rahul is used as an opener again, India might be forced to look elsewhere for a solid No. 4.
Pant or Sudharsan at No. 4?
Rishabh Pant, returning to the setup after injury, could be pushed up the order. He brings X-factor and attacking flair, but whether he has the temperament for No. 4 remains to be seen. Alternatively, Sudharsan may also be tried at that position depending on who opens.
If that happens, Jadeja will likely slot in at No. 6 to strengthen the lower-middle order.
Karun Nair, Iyer, Padikkal in the Mix
Another outside chance is Karun Nair, who famously scored a triple century against England—albeit in Indian conditions. His recent County stint was fruitful, averaging 49 with a hundred and three fifties. He’s been consistent without setting the stage alight.
Other backup options include Shreyas Iyer and Devdutt Padikkal, both of whom have the potential but not yet the numbers to claim Kohli’s iconic spot. Still, they remain on the selectors’ radar.
Final Thoughts
Team India is clearly entering a new phase of Test cricket—one filled with promise but riddled with uncertainty. With England up next, the time has come for a new generation to stake its claim.
Whether it’s Jaiswal, Gill, Rahul, or a surprise inclusion like Sudharsan or Nair, India’s next Test team will not only be judged by talent but by how well they adapt to the high expectations set by the likes of Kohli and Rohit.
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