India will lock horns with England in the first Test of the five-match series starting at Headingley from June 20.

With superstars like Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma retiring from the longest format of the game, promising batter Shubman Gill will lead the side.

While Gill's leadership skills will be in focus, several fans and experts are intrigued by the question that who will  replace Kohli in the Indian playing XI at the no.4 spot.

In response,  former Australia captain Ricky Ponting is of the opinion that Gill should succeed Kohli in the role. 

According to the former Australia great,  taking over the no.4 role will make it easier for Gill to lead the Indian team as well. However, Ponting doesn't want KL Rahul to open the innings.

"I think Sai Sudarshan and Yashasvi Jaiswal will open the batting in England as Sudarshan just looks like a class player to me and technically I think he could do well at Test level. They'll have two pretty young opening batters, so they might look to go for someone that's got a bit more experience at No.3. Whether that's KL Rahul or Karun Nair at No.3, and then Shubman might end up being that No.4 player, which will probably make life for him a little bit easier as a captain as well," said Ponting.

"Not having to be opening or batting at No.3 as a young captain might make it easier. Their top five will probably be Sudarshan, Jaiswal, KL, Gill and Karun Nair for the start of the England series," the multiple World Cup-winner added.