Post Rohit and Virat Era: Who’s India’s Next Wall

This thread continues from our earlier post, where we explored the opening options for India in the upcoming Test series against England. You can read that analysis here: Post Rohit and Virat Era: Likely Test Team of India for England Series. In this segment, we shift focus to the No. 3 position—historically known as the "Mr. Dependable” slot, previously held by Test greats like Rahul Dravid and Cheteshwar Pujara for much of their careers. It's a critical and challenging role. While scoring runs is vital, it's equally important for the No. 3 batter to absorb pressure by facing a high number of deliveries, thereby protecting the middle and lower-middle order in testing conditions.

With that in mind, our analysis will not only consider traditional performance metrics but also include the average number of balls faced per match to assess potential candidates for this pivotal position. Before we dive into analyzing the current contenders, it's important to appreciate just how exceptional Rahul Dravid was in England and what a significant legacy the next No. 3 will have to live up to. and while Cheteshwar Pujara was good, you would notice the significant dip, part of which can be attributed to even more challenging conditions.

Rahul Dravid : Arguably the greatest Indian Test Batter in England

Dravid's record speaks volumes. On his debut tour to England in 1996, he featured in the middle order, but in the subsequent tours of 2002, 2007, and 2011, he firmly established himself as India’s rock at No. 3. While the 2007 series was below par by his standards, his performances in 2002 and 2011 rank among the finest by any visiting batter in English conditions.

Cheteshwar Pujara in England

To be fair to Pujara, the conditions he faced in England were arguably even more challenging than those in Dravid's era. However, his overall record still falls short when compared to Dravid’s stellar performances.

Now, let’s turn our attention to the current contenders for the No. 3 spot. The most obvious choice is Shubman Gill. He has expressed a desire to bat at No. 3, and given the confidence the team management has shown in him, it’s likely his request will be honored.

Other potential candidates include Hanuma Vihari, Sai Sudharsan, KL Rahul, Devdutt Padikkal (currently injured) , Rajat Patidar (currently injured), Rituraj Gaikwad (currently injured), Mayank Agarwal, and Karun Nair. While the list of names could go on, the reality is that for the better part of the last 25 years, the No. 3 position has been occupied almost exclusively by Rahul Dravid and Cheteshwar Pujara—except in cases of injury. Of the current options, only Hanuma Vihari has batted at No. 3 in a Test in England, scoring 20 and 11 at Birmingham in 2022. The rest, aside from Gill, remain largely untested in English conditions, with some yet to make their Test debuts.

Shubman Gill: The Next Wall ?

To be frank, this record is quite underwhelming. It hardly inspires confidence, especially considering the importance of the No. 3 position and Gill’s standing within India’s leadership group. While he has fared better as an opener in Australia, perhaps concerns about swing prompted his move down the order. In any case, much will hinge on how Gill performs—this series could very well prove pivotal for both him and India.

The case for Sai Sudharsan and Karun Nair

Both players have experience in English conditions through county cricket, but only as middle-order batters. Sai Sudharsan is yet to make his Test debut for India, while Karun Nair has featured in six Tests—all played in India and all in the middle order.

Whichever direction India chooses, it will undoubtedly be a significant gamble, given the magnitude of the void at No. 3. That said, it also presents an exciting opportunity—this could be the beginning of a new journey for one of them to emerge as a long-term pillar in the lineup, perhaps even a future great.

Obvious Pick: Shubman Gill

Backup Pick: Sai Sudharsan, Karun Nair

Surprise Pick: Hanuma Vihari

https://preview.redd.it/v4d0i8kw9p0f1.png?width=1979&format=png&auto=webp&s=ae6871bc5c4c52efd9eb08a660fb6f0cadfd1466

https://preview.redd.it/xk8lnwinap0f1.png?width=1979&format=png&auto=webp&s=f36f978af1df7edaa0b281f32884ee3f9b642fd7

Thank you very much for your upvotes and comments, that encouraged me to do more analysis.