Number four is the perfect place for Shubman Gill in red-ball cricket: Deep Dasgupta

Former India wicketkeeper-batter Deep Dasgupta feels that Shubman Gill’s true potential in Test cricket will be unlocked once he moves to No. 4 in the batting order. Virat Kohli had been India’s No. 4 batter in the red-ball format after Sachin Tendulkar’s retirement. Now that the Delhi batter has stepped away from the longest format of the game, Shubman could take that role, moving down from No. 3, where he has been batting in Test cricket of late.

Shubman will begin his tenure as India’s new Test captain when the Asian giants lock horns against England in a five-match series, commencing on June 20.

“From here on, we’ll be seeing Shubman Gill 2.0 — in a different position. I’ve always believed that in Test match cricket, the middle order — and now specifically number four — is the right place for him. Earlier, I used to say ‘middle order’ because we didn’t realise Virat would step away from the format this early. But now that the spot has opened up, I think number four is the perfect place for Shubman in red-ball cricket,” said Dasgupta on Star Sports.

Shubman, who started as an opener in Tests before moving to No. 3, doesn’t have a great record in the format. In 32 Tests, he has scored 1,893 runs at an average of 35.06. However, Dasgupta isn’t too perturbed by the below-par numbers as he feels that things will change for the better once the Punjab cricketer starts batting in the middle-order.

“So, in a way, this is going to be a rebirth of Shubman Gill — the red-ball player, the red-ball batter. I’m not too concerned about the numbers from before, because as I said, those were from when he was opening or batting at number three. Technically, he’s much better suited to number four, or the middle order, in Test cricket,” he added.

The first Test between India and England will be played at Headingley, Leeds. Shubman and Co. departed from Mumbai Airport on Friday, June 6, to play the high-voltage series.