When India faces England in the opening Test of the five-game series at Headingley on June 20, it will mark the start of a new era for the nation in Test cricket. With Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma both quitting the format last month, Shubman Gill will captain the team. Although Kohli's replacement for the no. 4 position is rightfully the main topic of conversation, Gill's captaincy is also a significant factor. After Tendulkar retired in 2013, Kohli took over the post and served in it effectively for the following 12 years.

Gill should take over for Kohli in the position, according to former Australia captain and two-time World Cup champion Ricky Ponting. Ponting believes that assuming the no. 4 position will also make it simpler for Gill to captain the Indian squad. Notably, Ponting does not want KL Rahul to start the batting.

Ponting told The ICC Review that he believes Sudarshan and Jaiswal will start the batting in England because Sudarshan seems to him to be a class player and technically he thinks he has the potential to succeed at the Test level.

Since they will have two attractive young opening batsmen, they may want to try to target someone with a bit more experience at the No.3 spot.

"It's possible that Shubman may eventually become that No. 4 player, which will likely make life a bit simpler for him as a captain, regardless of whether KL (Rahul) or Karun (Nair) is at No. 3."

Ponting believes that the young player will be under pressure if he opens the batting or plays at number three, which has been Gill's assigned position in Tests thus far.

“Being a young captain, not having to open or bat at No.3 could make things simpler. The legendary Australian stated that Sudarshan, Jaiswal, KL, Gill, and Karun Nair will probably be their top five players at the beginning of the England series.

India A: Rahul's century

On the other hand, during the second warm-up game against England Lions on Friday, KL Rahul blasted a century for India A while opening the batting. Rahul scored 116 after India A batted first, with Dhruv Jurel also scoring a half-century.

When Rohit Sharma joined the squad before the second Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, Rahul, who had been opening the innings for the team in his absence, was moved to the middle order.

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