“Sachin and Virat scored when Dravid and Pujara were around”: Former player on importance of No.3 ahead of ENG vs IND 2025 4th Test

Samira Vishwas

Tezzbuzz|17-07-2025

Overview:

While Sai Sudharsan was given the No.3 spot in the series opener, Karun Nair was promoted to that slot for the second and third red-ball games.

Former India opener Aakash Chopra spoke about the importance of the No.3 batting slot in the Indian team ahead of the fourth Test against England. He mentioned that Sachin Tendulkar and Virat Kohli were able to score runs at No.4 when Rahul Dravid and Cheteshwar Pujara were around and performed well at No.3.

India are 1-2 down in the ongoing Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy. While Sai Sudharsan was given the No.3 spot in the series opener, Karun Nair was promoted to that slot for the second and third red-ball games. Aakash was asked to choose among Nair, Sudharsan, Abhimanyu Easwaran, and Washington Sundar for the No.3 place for the Old Trafford Test.

“No.3 batter is important. Whenever Sachin Tendulkar scored runs in Test cricket, Rahul Dravid was also among the top performers. There was big partnerships between the two and they both flourished,” he said.

“The same was with Virat Kohli, who was able to give his best when Cheteshwar Pujara amassed runs at No.3 position. When your No.3 batter does well, the No.4 player starts doing well. However, you need quality in the team,” he added.

Chopra opined that Sundar shouldn’t be promoted to the No.3 slot. “I am not in favour of Washi as the ball will move in Manchester and No.3 is not an experimental position. You need a top batter over there and not the all-rounder.”

Aakash Chopra mentioned that India should continue with Karun Nair for one more Test before giving Sai Sudharsan and Abhimanyu Easwaran a chance.

He urged the team management to look at Sudharsan ahead of Easwaran if the decision-makers don’t want to continue with Nair.