Virat Kohli was Team India’s designated No. 4 batter in Test cricket, but after his retirement, the search for a new batter who can replace the veteran has started. Wasim Jaffer wants KL Rahul to play as an opener and form a pair with Yashasvi Jaiswal in the five Test matches against England. The two were impressive in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia.

Jaffer mentioned that Shubman Gill should move from No.3 to No.4 to replace Virat for the upcoming assignment.

“Shubman Gill is the right guy. He plays as an opener in white-ball cricket, but he needs to move down to No.4 in Test cricket. KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal were magnificent as openers in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. I feel Rahul is best suited to open the batting. Why change something that is not broken?” Jaffer told TOI.

As an opener, KL Rahul has scored 2803 runs in 83 innings at an average of 35.04, laced with 7 hundreds and 14 fifties. At No.4, he has amassed 108 runs in two innings with the top score of 86.

Gill has accumulated 1019 runs in 30 innings at an average of 37.74, including three centuries at No.3. As an opener, he has scored 874 runs in 29 innings, averaging 32.37.

Jaffer wants Sai Sudharsan to bat at No.3 in Tests. “Sai Sudharsan is a good batter and he should be given a longer run at No.3.’

The southpaw has recorded 1543 runs in 36 IPL games at an average of 46.75, including 11 fifties. In first-class cricket, he has managed 1957 runs in 49 innings with the help of seven tons and five fifties. He has also amassed 1396 runs in 27 List A innings, including 6 tons and as many fifties.