IND vs ENG: Rishabh Pant confirms India's batting order ahead of first Test; sheds light on No. 4 and No. 5 spots

Rishabh Pant and Shubman Gill

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NEW DELHI: India's Test vice-captain and wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant has confirmed a major change in the batting line-up ahead of the first Test against England at Headingley, Leeds, starting Friday, June 20.Addressing the media on Wednesday, Pant revealed that skipper Shubman Gill will move down the order to bat at No.4 - a position long occupied by the now-retired Virat Kohli - marking a significant shift in India's batting structure after the recent exits of both Kohli and former captain Rohit Sharma."I think there is still discussion going on about who is going to play at No.3. But 4 and 5 are definitely fixed. Shubman is going to bat at 4 and I am going to stick to No.5 as of now," Pant said.Gill, who began his Test journey as an opener, had shifted to No.3 recently to make room for Yashasvi Jaiswal . His move to No.4 is seen as a bid to solidify India's middle order during this transitional phase.Pant also spoke about his strong rapport with Gill. "Me and Shubman have a really good camaraderie off the field. If you're good friends off the field, it eventually shows on the field.The comfort zone we have with each other is going to be really special," he added.With England also in transition, missing legends James Anderson and Stuart Broad due to retirement, Pant admitted there was relief but urged caution."Definitely, it feels good when both (Anderson and Broad) are not there. But we can't take the current bowling attack lightly. They have enough firepower, and we have to respect them," Pant said.India haven't won a Test series in England since 2007. Their closest shot came in 2021 when they led 2-1 before the COVID-delayed fifth Test was lost in 2022, resulting in a drawn series.The five-Test series will now be contested for the newly minted Tendulkar-Anderson Trophy, symbolizing the evolving legacy of this storied rivalry.

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