India's No. 3 position in Test cricket has long been considered one of the most important roles in the batting line-up. But under Gautam Gambhir's leadership, that spot has seen surprising instability.
In just seven matches, India have tried six different players at No. 3 - a number that raises questions about consistency and long-term planning. The team's results in this period have not helped either.
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With just three wins in 11 Tests, India are under pressure to find stability - especially after falling behind 0-1 in the current series against England.
Full list of India No. 3 batters under Gambhir in Test cricket
It began in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy where Devdutt Padikkal played at No. 3 in the first match. He was replaced by Shubman Gill in the next two games.
Then came KL Rahul in the fourth Test, followed again by Gill in the fifth. When India faced England at Headingley, it was debutant Sai Sudharsan who got the role.
In the ongoing second Test at Edgbaston, Karun Nair has been slotted in: becoming the sixth player to bat at one of the team's most critical positions.
Here's the full list of India’s No. 3 batters under Gambhir so far:
| Match | No. 3 Batter |
|---|---|
| 1st Test vs Australia (Perth) | Devdutt Padikkal |
| 2nd Test vs Australia (Adelaide) | Shubman Gill |
| 3rd Test vs Australia (Brisbane) | Shubman Gill |
| 4th Test vs Australia (Melbourne) | KL Rahul |
| 5th Test vs Australia (Sydney) | Shubman Gill |
| 1st Test vs England (Leeds) | Sai Sudharsan |
| 2nd Test vs England (Edgbaston) | Karun Nair |
The lack of a settled No. 3 is becoming a pattern in India's current batting set-up. For a team struggling with consistency, the absence of a reliable top-order structure is making it harder to post big totals and control sessions.
With India trailing in the current series, Gambhir's decisions are facing growing scrutiny.
India's Test record under Gambhir
Let's take a look at India's Test record under Gambhir below:
- Matches: 11
- Wins: 3 (2 vs Bangladesh, 1 vs Australia)
- Losses: 7
- Draws: 1
- Win %: 27.27%
The search for a stable No. 3 continues. And so do the questions about Gambhir's approach to building India's red-ball core.