Virat Kohli, the star batsman for India, has declared his retirement from Test cricket following Rohit Sharma‘s departure from the game’s longest format. Due to the legends ending their red-ball careers, India is notably going through a transitional period right now. Sachin Tendulkar and later Kohli himself occupied the legendary No. 4 place, which is currently empty, and many people are wondering who could fill such enormous shoes. Michael Atherton, a former England captain, recently acknowledged that it’s difficult to think of someone who could compete with Kohli’s influence at the position.

After 123 Test matches, the Delhi-born cricketer’s red-ball career came to a conclusion with 9,230 runs at an average of 46.85, 30 hundreds, and 31 half, hundreds. In 160 innings at the No. 4 spot, Virat Kohli amassed 7,564 runs at an average of more than 50. The Indian great was honoured by Atherton.

At the beginning of a new World Test Championship cycle, it seems like India will begin to rebuild and restructure their squad. Because you’ve just had roughly 15 years of Kohli, and before that it was Sachin Tendulkar, you kind of feel sorry for the person who has to follow. We don’t know who will take his spot at No. 4 yet,” Atherton said.

Who will take Virat Kohli place at number four?

Who will replace Kohli in the middle order as Team India gets ready for the five-Test trip of England? KL Rahul and Shubman Gill are the front-runners for this role, though. Both have adopted middle-order roles after beginning their careers as openers. Since Cheteshwar Pujara’s departure, Gill has been playing at number three, and Rahul has been seen as a versatile option at several batting positions. Karun Nair, Sarfaraz Khan, and Shreyas Iyer are in the pool in case the selectors decide to choose a different face. Iyer is expected to return to the team, despite his reservations about short-pitched bowling.