Nasser Hussain jumps in joy after Virat Kohli opts out of England Tests

Former England captain Nasser Hussain believes Virat Kohli‘s absence in the first two Tests will give England a slim chance of upsetting the hosts. India and England will resume their rivalry in the highly-anticipated five-Test series, starting on Thursday (January 25).

Even before the start of the series, India have suffered a big blow as their batting mainstay Virat Kohli withdrew from the squad for the first two Tests. The former India captain has decided against playing in both games due to personal reasons. And while India will miss Virat Kohli’s services, Nasser Hussain believes it will allow England to take the upper hand in the series.

Writing in his column for the Daily Mail, the England great also talked about Harry Brook’s absence and called it a big blow for the visitors as well. Brook has pulled out of the entire five-match series, citing personal reasons.

“My first thought is that we wish Virat well. Like Brook, he’s taken a step back for personal reasons, and everyone in the game should respect that. Some things are more important than cricket. But there’s no doubt that India, and the series, will miss him,” wrote Nasser Hussain.

“He’s also been in great form, and his absence from Thursday’s first Test at Hyderabad and next week’s second at Visakhapatnam deprives fans all over the world from watching a genius at work. That said, any team would suffer when a player of Kohli’s class drops out, and it gives England a glimmer of hope in the first two Tests of a series in which they begin as clear underdogs,” Hussain added.

Nasser Hussain’s advice for England:

Writing further, Nasser Hussain stated that winning a Test series in India is one of the toughest assignments in the game. He said that winning a series in India would be the biggest win for England captain Ben Stokes and head coach Brendon McCullum. England have not lost a single Test series since Stokes took charge of the team in 2022.

“Ben Stokes and coach Brendon McCullum have risen to every challenge since they took over England’s Test side and have answered all the questions they have faced. They could do it again now and make history of their own with their biggest win yet,” wrote Nasser Hussain.

“To do that, with whatever their mode of cricket is now, they will still have to do the basics right. That includes reading the conditions correctly.

“Last time England were in India three years ago they did not do that, most notably when they played an extra seamer in the pink ball Test in Ahmedabad and it turned square. Axar Patel took 11 wickets in the match and even Joe Root took five for eight!” he added.

Incidentally, England are the last team to win a Test series in India. They beat India in the 2012/13 season. India have not lost a single series since then and have thoroughly outplayed the visitors.