What should be the top six of India in Shubman Gill-Gautam Gambhir era? Ricky Ponting broke it

Now, the Indian Test cricket officially enters the Shubman Gill-Gautam Gambhir era, eyeing all the upcoming five-observation chains in England starting from June 20. While the captaincy was handed over to 25 -year -old Gill, the biggest question is how the Indian batting order will shape in this new era.

No KL Rahul! Sai Sudhrasan to open?

Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting and current PBKS head coach weighed India’s Test squad and Gill’s height to the captain. For Ponting, the leadership choice understood. “This didn’t surprise me. Gill is young, composed, and already takes herself like a leader,” He said. He also agreed with the fact that India could not be an injury-hurt captain in Jaspreet Bumrah.

On the batting front, Ponting proposed a reshuffle, taking Gill to number 4 to reduce the burden of facing a new ball in testing English conditions. So, Gill looks so to change Virat Kohli.

“I think (Sai) Sudarshan and (Yashsavi) Jaiswal will open batting (in England) because Sudarshan looks like a class player just for me and technically I think he can do good at the test level,” Ponting said in the ICC review.

“They will have two beautiful young inaugural batsmen, so they can go for someone who has got a little more experience at number 3. Whether it is at KL (Rahul) or Karun (Nair) number 3, and then Shubman may end as that number 4 player, which will probably be a little easier for him as a captain.,

“Can’t open or bat in No.3 as a young captain. It may be easy. His top five will probably be Sudarshan, Jaiswal, KL, Gill and Karun Nair for the start of the England series.”

Form with Karun Nair, KL Rahul and Reformson!

Recent performances refund Ponting’s argument. KL Rahul created an sublime century in the A vs England Lions Game in India. Although he opened with Yashsvi Jaiswal, the innings in Northampton was quite spectacular. He is now the most experienced cog in the Indian lineup. IPL 2025 Orange Cap winner Sai Reformson has shown maturity beyond her years with 759 runs. He also has a previous county cricket experience and is also a great camera with Gill.

Meanwhile, Karun Nair forced his way into a dispute with the marathon double century (2002 Ruk 272) in the first informal test. After the last played for India in 2017, his resurrection has been unprecedented. He broke all doors with an extraordinary domestic season. Since the 2024/25 season, Karun has clubs 10 domestic centuries, the most by any Indian!