Ricky Ponting, an Australian icon, has recommended Indian Test captain Shubman Gill to consider going down the order to bat at No. 4 in the forthcoming five-match Test series against England, which begins June 20. Gill recently led Gujarat Titans (GT) in the IPL 2025 season, helping the franchise finish third in points.
Ponting believes that a change in the batting order could assist relieve pressure on Gill, particularly given the responsibilities of captaincy. With the retirement of Indian legend Virat Kohli, India is looking for a long-term No. 4 prospect.
“His white-ball form has been excellent. He still has some work to do on his Test batting. And it’s never easy as a rookie skipper to have to worry about your batting to the extent that he’ll have to,” remarked Ponting.
The former Australian captain recommended that if India opens with Yashasvi Jaiswal and Sai Sudharsan, Gill might bat at No. 4 to provide consistency in the middle order.
“If they opt with (Yashasvi) Jaiswal and Sai Sudharsan as openers, they’ll need someone more experienced at number three, like KL Rahul or Karun Nair. That would allow Shubman to bat fourth. “Once you get used to it, you can move back up to No. 3,” Ponting remarked.
Gill wouldn’t be too concerned: Ricky Ponting
Ponting voiced trust in Gill’s leadership and believed the 25-year-old was capable of handling pressure. He also identified a few areas where Gill may improve, particularly his concentration throughout extended innings.
“He simply seems like the type of guy who wouldn’t mind taking on more responsibility. He has a very level head on his shoulders. “He’s someone who will be around Indian cricket for another ten years,” Ponting said.
“I believe it is more a mental application. There is nothing wrong technically. However, he may get ahead of himself or get sluggish during an inning. You have to be completely engaged to every ball for six or seven hours of the day. “That is Shubman’s challenge,” he continued.
Need to be in control of his strokeplay: Ricky Ponting
The Punjab Kings (PBKS) head coach emphasized the importance of mindset and stroke control over just a solid defence.
“Some great Test players didn’t have great defensive games. But if you’re in control of your strokeplay, that’s less of a worry. Defence is important, but mindset matters more,” Ponting concluded.
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