Rishabh Pant leaks Shubman Gill's new batting position, exposes Gautam Gambhir’s No.3 dilemma

India National Cricket Team star wicketkeeper-batsman and Test vice-captain Rishabh Pant revealed the new batting position of the newly-appointed skipper Shubman Gill in red-ball cricket.

Rishabh Pant also exposed the No.3 dilemma that the Gautam Gambhir-led team management is facing ahead of the five-match Test series against the England National Cricket Team.

No.4 and No.5 are fixed - Rishabh Pant

Speaking to reporters ahead of the Test series opener at Headingley in Leeds, Pant said that the team management has locked in Shubman Gill at the No.4 position in Test cricket, which means he will be taking over Virat Kohli's place.

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Also, he confirmed that he will be batting at the No.5 spot while the decision on the crucial No.3 position is yet to be made. Rishabh Pant said:

"I think there is still discussion going on, who is going to play No.3. But definitely No.4 and No.5 are fixed. I think Shubman is going to bat at No.4 and I'm going to stick to No.5 as of now. And rest, we are going to keep on discussing about that."

Notably, Sai Sudharsan and Karun Nair are fighting for the No.3 spot in the Test team. Both players are in solid form, and the team management will have a tough decision to make on whether they want a young batting sensation to take that position or the veteran comeback man.

Earlier, when Cheteshwar Pujara was dropped from the team, Shubman Gill took over the No.3 position but was unable to play highly impressive knocks.

Obviously, it's a new start for us, big people have left - Rishabh Pant

The wicketkeeper-batsman further acknowledged that the retirements of the seniors - Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Ravichandran Ashwin - have left a big gap in the team, but opined that it would also give an opportunity to youngsters to build a new culture and take forward the legacy of the former cricketers. He said:

"Obviously, it's a new start for us, big people have left. Yes, there will be a gap, but at the same time, it's an opportunity for us to build a new culture from here or take a culture forward from there, just adding to it.

“I think being in a great frame of mind, helping the new players to learn and improve themselves in overseas conditions and sharing knowledge with each other, having that care and love in the dressing room for each other — that is something we are looking forward to do."

I think me and Shubman have a really good camaraderie - Rishabh Pant

Rishabh Pant also opened up on his camaraderie with Shubman Gill, saying that they are really good friends off the field. He said:

"I think me and Shubman have a really good camaraderie off the field — especially off the field. If you're good friends off the field, it eventually comes on the field.

"It's much better for cricket always, and that is something I've always believed in. Me and him, we get along really well together. We keep on having conversations, and the kind of comfort zone we have with each other — I think that is really going to be special for us."

Also Read: Watch: Rishabh Pant’s epic reaction to 'senior player' tag ahead of India vs England series goes viral