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With the retirements of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma from Test cricket, Indian selectors face the daunting task of rebuilding the team’s top order ahead of the challenging five-Test match series in England. While many expected the likes of Shreyas Iyer to be front-runners for the coveted No. 4 spot, former India batting coach Sanjay Bangar has thrown a curveball by backing a star domestic cricketer for the role and advocating for Abhimanyu Easwaran as opener. These choices, rooted in domestic dominance and resilience, signal a bold new era for Indian Test cricket.
Sanjay Bangar shares his choice for Virat Kohli’s replacement in Test cricket
Bangar named Karun Nair a fitting choice for Kohli in India’s Test side. Nair’s Test career is a story of both brilliance and baffling neglect. After etching his name in history as India’s second triple-centurion with an unbeaten 303 against England in 2016, Nair inexplicably faded from national contention, enduring nearly a decade in the wilderness. However, his recent domestic exploits have been nothing short of sensational. In the 2024-25 Ranji Trophy, Nair amassed 863 runs, and in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, he dominated with 779 runs at an astonishing average of 389, becoming the tournament’s highest run-scorer and earning Player of the Series honours.
He also played a pivotal role in Vidarbha’s Ranji Trophy triumph, scoring crucial runs in high-pressure situations. Bangar’s endorsement is rooted in this remarkable resurgence.
“If all the talk of giving domestic [cricket] the priority and [using it as a] benchmark, then he has done everything possible to get his Test spot back,” Bangar stated on ESPNCricinfo. Nair’s ability to deliver in big matches and his hunger for a second chance make him a compelling candidate for India’s new No. 4.
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Bangar also backs Abhimanyu Easwaran for the next Indian opener
While the spotlight has often eluded him, Easwaran’s case for a Test debut grows stronger with every domestic season. The Bengal opener has been a run-machine, accumulating 7,674 runs in 101 first-class matches at an average of 48.87, with 27 centuries and 29 fifties to his name. Easwaran’s recent form is particularly noteworthy—he scored his fourth consecutive first-class century in the 2024-25 Ranji Trophy and has delivered big knocks in the Duleep Trophy and Irani Cup as well.
Easwaran’s leadership credentials are also on display, having been named captain of the India A squad for the England Lions tour, a crucial audition before the senior team’s England series. Bangar’s faith in Easwaran as an opener is a nod to his unwavering consistency and adaptability in varied conditions. Despite being on the fringes of the national side for years, Easwaran’s relentless pursuit of excellence in domestic cricket may finally earn him the elusive Test cap.
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