IND vs ENG / No. 3 position for the Indian Test team - an unsolved mystery

IND vs ENG: The number-3 position in Indian Test cricket has long been a symbol of stability and trust. Veterans like Rahul Dravid and Cheteshwar Pujara not only scored a lot of runs while batting at this position, but also rescued the team from crisis in difficult situations. Dravid scored more than 10,000 runs in 135 Test matches at number-3, while Pujara proved his ability at this position in 95 Test matches. But after these two, the Indian team is struggling to find a reliable batsman for this important position. Since June 2023, six batsmen have been tried at this position, but no one has lived up to expectations.

Shubman Gill: Uncomfortable at number-3, shone at number-4

Shubman Gill played 16 Test matches at number-3 and scored 972 runs. However, he never looked comfortable at this position. After taking over the captaincy, he left number-3 and started batting at number-4, after which there was a tremendous improvement in his performance. This change started a rain of runs from his bat, but the number-3 problem remained unresolved.

KL Rahul, Virat Kohli and Devdutt Paddikkal: Ineffective attempts

After June 2023, KL Rahul, Virat Kohli and Devdutt Paddikkal played one Test match each at number-3, but none of them failed to make an impact. Virat Kohli has retired from Test cricket, Devdutt Paddikkal is out of the Indian Test team, and KL Rahul is now handling the responsibility of opening. The unsuccessful experiments of these three have further deepened the number-3 problem.

Karun Nair and Sai Sudarshan: Disappointment on England tour

On the recent England tour, the Indian team tried Karun Nair and Sai Sudarshan at number-3, but both failed. Karun Nair, who returned to the senior team on the basis of excellent performance in domestic cricket, did not live up to expectations. He scored only 111 runs in four innings in two Test matches at number-3, which did not include a single half-century. On the other hand, Sai Sudarshan batted at number-3 in his debut Test. He could not even open the account in the first innings, while he scored 30 runs in the second innings. His performance also could not make any special impact.

Way forward: What is the solution?

The number-3 position is like the backbone in Test cricket. This batsman is neither a complete opener nor a part of the middle order, but is a bridge between the two. The Indian team needs a batsman for this position, who is technically strong, can play long innings with patience, and can score runs under pressure. Currently, Shubman Gill is performing better at number-4, and KL Rahul is busy opening. In such a situation, it is important to give a chance to the young batsmen emerging from domestic cricket or prepare an experienced player for this role.