Not KL Or Gill! Kumble Picks 33-Year-Old Star As India's New No. 4 Test Batter

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Last Updated:May 14, 2025, 17:45 IST

Virat Kohli was India's No. 4 batter successful Test cricket for much than a decade, and present aft his retirement, a caller subordinate volition instrumentality his role.

Anil Kumble picks India's caller No. 4 batter successful Tests. (Picture Credit: PTI, AFP)

Virat Kohli was India’s No. 4 batter successful Test cricket for much than a decade, but present aft his status from the five-day format of the crippled connected May 12, the Indian squad volition person a caller No. 4 batter successful the upcoming five-match Test bid against England. India volition question to England adjacent period to instrumentality portion successful a red-ball bid that starts connected June 20 successful Leeds.

While KL Rahul and Shubman Gill are among the favourites to go India’s caller No. 4 batter, erstwhile Test skipper and legendary spinner Anil Kumble has suggested Karun Nair’s sanction for the role. According to Kumble, who has present donned the chapeau of an expert, “I don’t deliberation anybody thought done who’s going to bat astatine No. 4. Rohit successful Australia didn’t play the archetypal Test, truthful determination was a alteration successful the batting order. Once Rahul did well, Rohit dropped down the order, and past helium dropped himself from the XI successful that past Test. So you benignant of cognize who is the backup opener for India, but I don’t deliberation anyone thought done No.4," Kumble told ESPNcricinfo.

“Karun deserves to travel backmost into the Indian squad with the benignant of home tally helium has had. So possibly helium could beryllium the No. 4 for India due to the fact that I consciousness you request a spot of experience. You request idiosyncratic successful England who has been determination and done that. He has played region cricket, truthful helium knows the conditions. Karun whitethorn beryllium connected the different broadside of 30, but helium is inactive young. If helium gets an opportunity, determination volition beryllium a batch much anticipation for youngsters to play first-class cricket. If the sheer show successful home cricket doesn’t get recognised, it becomes a spot of a challenge," helium added.

Karun, who is 1 of the 2 Indian batters to people a triple period successful Test cricket, was successful red-hot signifier for Vidarbha successful 2024-25 home cricket, and arsenic a effect of his ace amusement with the bat, helium is expected to marque a Test comeback aft 8 agelong years and question to England with the Indian squad for the five-match series.

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News cricket Not KL Or Gill! Kumble Picks 33-Year-Old Star As India's New No. 4 Test Batter