Former BCCI selector Saba Karim suggested that wicketkeeper batter KL Rahul is an ideal candidate to replace Virat Kohli at number four for the Indian cricket team in the upcoming Test series against England. Former India captain Virat Kohli announced his Test retirement on May 12, 2025, ahead of the England Tests. Since his retirement, there have been a lot of conversations on who will bat at his position in the longest format of the game.
Apart from Kohli, Rohit Sharma also announced his retirement from the longest format of the game ahead of the five-Test series against England. The BCCI appointed Shubman Gill as his successor to lead India in whites. However, it would be interesting to see who can replace the batter to open alongside Yashasvi Jaiswal in Tests.
"Well, in the absence of Kohli, Rahul's role is monumental. And I look at him, as a batter who can bat a number four. Many people have suggested different batting positions, but I feel that KL is ideal to replace or take over, the role of Virat Kohli at number four, because that number four, he can play a dual role of negotiating the early setback if that happens in the Indian side, and then he can carry the innings forward. He does have the right kind of technique. He has done well in England," Saba Karim told NDTV.
"He has a temperament. And I think with the past season, season and a half, there is a lot of maturity that has come in. So I think that's the kind of responsibility with Indian team management," added Saba Karim
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The five-Test match series between India and England is scheduled to start from June 20 and this will be the first red-ball assignment for the Men in Blue after a 3-1 defeat in Australia during the five-Test match series of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25.
India squad for England series
Shubman Gill(C), Rishabh Pant(vc), Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Sai Sudharsan, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Karun Nair, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Ravindra Jadeja, Dhruv Jurel, Washington Sundar, Shardul Thakur, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Parishdh Krishna, Akashdeep, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav