Follow UsThe worst fears of the Indian fans are here.
Days after Rohit Sharma pulled the plug from Test cricket, Virat Kohli too is close to walking the same path, with the veteran reportedly telling the BCCI that he is done with the longest format of the game. The development means that if the BCCI cannot convince Kohli to prolong his Test career, they will have to enter England with both a new opener and a new No.4 batter.
Read: Which Opener Will Succeed Rohit Sharma in Tests?
Let’s put it this way: replacing Kohli might be the toughest thing after replacing Sachin Tendulkar, and there’s no other way you can put it down. So, how can India possibly replace Kohli in Tests should he hang his boots?
There’s no denying that Kohli's potential retirement could open the door for a Karun Nair comeback. The Vidarbha man set the Ranji Trophy 2024/25 on fire with crazy consistency, smashing 863 runs, with two half-centuries and four hundreds.
While Nair started the tournament on a slow note, the right-hander picked up pace and was unstoppable after that, smashing a century every contest except for the clash against Mumbai and Rajasthan. Even in the final, the 34-year-old scored 135 and 86, leading Vidarbha to the title against Kerala.
Overall, since his cricketing ‘rebirth’ in 2022, Nair has scored 2,580 runs in FC cricket at an average of 51.6, with nine hundreds in 32 games. Since the start of 2024, only Joe Root (2082) has more FC runs than Nair. These numbers could just seal him that No.4 spot? Not to forget Nair's County experience, as in this period, he's smashed 736 runs at an average of 57 for Northamptonshire.
Rajat Patidar seems like a wildard option, especially when you look at the numbers Nair posted in the 2024/25 Ranji season. But India might be looking at him to replace Kohli in England because of his attacking nature (SR of 77 in Ranji Trophy 24/25), given the brand of cricket that England are expected to play in the summer.
Across seven matches in the Ranji last season, Patidar scored 529 runs with two fifties and one hundred, but the fact that he played Test cricket as recently as last year against the same opponent tilts it in his favour. However, it might be a pick that could come with some criticism.
Due to national commitment, Sarfaraz Khan did not play the last edition of the Ranji Trophy, but he’s had enough Test cricket experience for India to try him out at that No.4 position. While he might have struggled across his last four innings - 0, 1, 11 & 9 - you can’t forget his ultra-aggressive pushes that have helped India to post huge first-innings totals.
If you have to beat England, you need to beat them at their own game: an aggressive brand of cricket. That’s where Sarfaraz’s strike rate of 70.7 will certainly come in handy for the team, especially to keep the game moving. And given how much he's toiled at the domestic level, you can't just look past that option.
Well, he’s KL Rahul - the ultimate team man. But more importantly, India could really consider playing him at No.4 because he has enough experience to ace that role. Rahul’s expertise as a stroke-maker could put him in good stead for that No.4 spot.
At No.4, Rahul averages 54 in Tests, with an 86 against England in Hyderabad back in 2024. Rahul has also extensively batted in the middle order across Tests and ODIs, which is why he might be a like-for-like replacement for Kohli.
Plus, his ability to hold an end when needed might only help the lower middle-order to come out attacking, something that Kohli was doing over the previous two tours whenever he batted extensively.
Outside the box options to replace Kohli at No.4
Over the past few years, no one has been as consistent as Baba Indrajith in Indian first-class cricket. He’s been Tamil Nadu’s Mr. Consistent, bailing them out of trouble, batting at that No.4 position, where he’s amassed 2939 runs, averaging 58.78. Not to forget his incredible returns of 24 50+ scores at the same spot, he becomes a really exciting option for Team India.
Also Read: ‘Score big runs, trust the timing’: Baba Indrajith’s mantra to earn Test cap
Washington Sundar has just once batted at No.4 in FC cricket. But he’s batted thrice at No.3, where he’s scored 171 runs at an average of 57, with one hundred. Essentially pushing him up the order at No.3 to blunt the new ball could then help India to bat Gill at No.4, as he’s seen as the successor to Kohli.
It also gives a lot of bowling options in the setup, an off-spinner as well, which is right up Gautam Gambhir’s alley. Does he have the batting potential at this level? Well, a Test average of 42.55 and four fifties certainly says 'yes'.
Dhruv Jurel’s first three innings in Test cricket: 46 (104), 39* (77) and 90 (149). Guess the opponents? England. That’s exactly where Jurel might come into the picture as an outside-the-box option. The right-hander has all the tools in the shed to become one of the well-rounded batters in international cricket.
In India A’s last tour to Australia, he was one of the bright stars, scoring heavily against a strong Australia 'A' attack on spicy surfaces. He’s yet another player who has been in and around the setup, which means he’s no stranger to international cricket’s demands. But putting him at No.4 might be a big risk, and India will have to decide if it's worth taking.