Former India player Aakash Chopra has said that Shubman Gill’s decision to bat at No. 4 in the first Test against England was an interesting move. He also added that players rarely drop down the order in Tests as well. The first Test of the five-match Test series between India and England will be played in Leeds from Friday, June 20, onwards.

While talking about this in a video shared on his YouTube channel ‘Aakash Chopra,’ he said, “It’s now been confirmed that the captain will play at No. 4. When you look at Shubman Gill’s career, it started with opening and how it reached No. 4, it’s a very interesting one, because people rarely go down the order from opening in Test cricket.”

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“They move up the order for sure. Someone might start at No. 5 or No. 6, and then slowly settle at No. 4 or No. 3. People rarely start as openers and then settle down the order. I don’t recall too many players. I don’t remember anyone in the Indian context, at least recently. Maybe once in a while, but not necessarily beyond that,” he added.

However, Aakash Chopra also said that Sai Sudharsan will likely surpass Abhimanyu Easwaran for the No. 3 position as well.

“It means that only two slots are vacant in the XI. One vacant slot is No. 3, which I feel can be given to Sai Sudharsan. It could have been given to Abhimanyu Easwaran as well, but it feels as if the world is moving towards Sai Sudharsan. Otherwise, Karun Nair at No. 3 because we have seen him bat up the order in practice sessions many times,” he said.

“Karun Nair used to always be there among the top four batters who used to go to bat. So it could be Karun Nair at No. 3, but personally I feel Karun Nair at No. 6. It seems like Shardul Thakur will be the frontrunner. Nitish Kumar Reddy might also play with him, but there might be a place for only one of them,” Aakash Chopra concluded.