Who after Sachin Tendulkar? The search for the next number four

Cheteshwar Pujara: Easily the biggest success story of Indian Test cricket after the debacles of England and Australia, Che Po has made Rahul Dravid’s retirement seem not so disconcerting as it should be. Ever since coming back to the Indian team after a horrific injury curtailed a year of his international career, Pujara has soared up and up with double centuries against England and Australia, three first class triple centuries and the captaincy of the A side. It wouldn’t be then too much of an overstatement to say that, on current form, Pujara is the best Test batsman in the side and therefore a worthy contender for Number Four.

But I would bet my next month’s salary against that happening. Moving Pujara to Number Four would not just threaten the golden goose’s life but leave his nest empty. India has a new set of openers who have just batted together for one match; they would not risk a new Number Three in seaming conditions. Besides that, Pujara has always batted at Number Three: his unobtrusive personality and uncomplicated style suits the position. Add to that the fact that Pujara is largely untested in overseas conditions – two below-average Test match outings in South Africa the last time India toured there – and he would prefer anything else to a shake-up from his batting position.