As India entered the five-match Test series against England, the team looked stable, even after the retirement of stalwarts Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli. KL Rahul and Shubman Gill appeared to have adapted well to fill the big shoes of Rohit and Kohli. However, a new concern has emerged — the No.3 batting position has become a serious weak link in the Indian lineup.
Struggles at No.3: A Growing Concern
Across the first four Tests, the No.3 spot has been India’s most underperforming position. Between Karun Nair and Sai Sudharsan, only 202 runs have come from that slot in eight innings — averaging a disappointing 25.25. Karun Nair managed 111 runs at an average of 27.77, while Sudharsan added 91 runs at 22.75.
Sudharsan did show some promise with a half-century in the first innings of the Manchester Test. But his second innings duck, especially when India was under pressure after conceding a 311-run lead, underscored the inconsistency at this crucial position.
Former India opener and cricket analyst Aakash Chopra addressed this issue in his latest YouTube video. He pointed out that despite being part of the squad for several years, players like Abhimanyu Easwaran and Shreyas Iyer haven’t been given a proper opportunity in the Test setup — especially at No.3.
Aakash Chopra’s Recommendations for No.3
Chopra suggested that both Easwaran and Iyer could be viable long-term options for India at No.3. “Karun Nair was given chances, but he couldn’t quite make them count. Sai Sudharsan also scored in the first innings but fell for a duck in the second. It’s not the first time this has happened,” he said. He added that it’s time the team management considers giving Easwaran a go or bringing in Shreyas Iyer as a potential solution.
Interestingly, while the No.3 position remains uncertain, the rest of the top order appears to be settling in well. Chopra noted that India hasn’t really missed Virat Kohli at No.4 thanks to strong performances from Shubman Gill, who played a composed innings of 78 recently, and KL Rahul, who has stepped into Rohit Sharma’s role with maturity and grit.
India’s Test team is in transition, but with several talented batters waiting in the wings, resolving the No.3 dilemma may just be a matter of giving the right player a consistent run.
