Former Indian wicket-keeper Deep Dasgupta has backed newly appointed Shubman Gill to bat at number four in the five-match Test series against England. Dasgupta said Gill has looked more like a middle order batter in the red-ball format.
Gill started his Test career as an opener but he has been batting at number three position in the last few Test matches, which he revealed is his preferred batting spot.
The 25-year-old doesn’t have a great record while playing outside the subcontinent as he averages only 25 and he would look to lead from the front in tough English conditions.
“From the very beginning, he (Gill) has looked to me more of a middle-order batter in red-ball cricket, although he himself wants to bat at the top of the order. He is slightly reluctant to go down the order. He wants to open only,” Deep Dasgupta said on Star Sports.
The former Bengal cricketer feels Gill’s Test numbers will improve if he bats at number four.
“However, if you see technically, I feel middle order is better suited for him. If he bats at No. 4, he will definitely change those numbers, whether it’s in England, Australia, at home, or away. Your voice as a captain becomes louder when you perform. So, from a captaincy point of view too, his bat needs to fire,” Dasgupta observed.
On the other hand, Dasgupta reckons Gill has former Indian captain Virat Kohli’s traits as he looks to dominate as a leader. Gill recently led Gujarat Titans to IPL 2025 playoffs.
“He has that ability. I can say that because I find Virat and Shubman very similar by nature. The way his career has progressed and whenever we have seen him captaining in the IPL, he has the attitude to dominate, which we have seen in Virat for so many years, due to which Virat is great,” he replied.
“We see those traits in Shubman as well. When he does captaincy, you actually know who is the captain on the ground. He also has the hunger to score runs and to become a cricketing great. He looks to me a player who wants to leave a legacy. So it seems like there are a lot of similarities,” Dasgupta elaborated.
The opening Test match between India and England will be played at Leeds, Headingley, from June 20 onwards.
