India, May 21 -- There has rarely been a phase in Indian cricket when the makeup of the Test side's top-order before an important tour like England's is unclear. Probably the Australia tour of 1999-2000 under Sachin Tendulkar's captaincy comes close, but at least one knew who the leader of the side was. The retirement of Ravichandran Ashwin (in the middle of the Australia tour), captain Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli (in a span of five days) has thrown India's bench strength into the arena.

It can be said with certainty that Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill and KL Rahul will form the core of the top four but who will bat where is the real mystery. Both Rahul and Gill started as openers but moved down after indifferent success. Gill himself ...