IND Vs ENG: Nasser Hussain Plays Mind Games After England's Poor Show In World Cup; Warns Rohit Sharma And His Men Ahead Of Sunday Encounter

Nasser Hussain, the former England captain, has called upon the Jos Buttler-led English side to mount a resurgence and disrupt India’s flawless record in the ongoing ICC Cricket World Cup 2023. England faces India in what promises to be a pivotal clash on Sunday, October 29, at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow.

India has achieved an impeccable record by winning all five matches played thus far, securing the second position in the points table with 10 points. Conversely, England is facing a precarious situation, ranked ninth in the points table after suffering four defeats in five matches.

England’s chances of progressing to the semifinals hang in the balance, with the threat of elimination looming. A loss to India would spell an early exit from the tournament for the Three Lions. Nasser Hussain, who is presently in India for commentary duties, is rallying behind his country’s team, urging them to bounce back and rekindle their campaign before it’s too late. According to him, the defending champions must reaffirm their stature as one of the world’s top cricket teams.

In his column for The Daily Mail, Nasser Hussain emphasized that the players bear the responsibility for the team’s performance and that they must rise to the occasion. He encouraged England to journey to Lucknow and disrupt India’s triumphant run, reminding the cricketing world of their remarkable talents and abilities.

He stated, “The players must take the responsibility for this. I’m not a great one for cliches like playing for the badge, but that’s what England has got to do now. They have to go to Lucknow on Sunday and spoil India’s party. They must remind India and the world just how great cricketers they have been—and still are.”

Nasser Hussain Disappointed By England’s Performance in This World Cup

Nasser Hussain’s comments came on the heels of England’s disappointing performance in the 2023 ODI World Cup, which has left cricket enthusiasts shocked. In a conversation with Sky Sports following England’s loss to Sri Lanka, Hussain described this as the end of an era for the English team. He expressed his belief that it might be time to consider changes to the lineup, as it appears to be a turning point in the team’s history.

“We are talking about some of the greatest players in our white-ball history, but this has just turned out to be a bridge too far for some of them,” Hussain stated in the interview.

While Nasser Hussain acknowledged the outstanding contributions made by the current English side over the years, he also recognized that change might be on the horizon, given the team’s recent struggles.

“I wouldn’t have changed the side before this tournament, but I would definitely be thinking about changing it now because it does feel like the end of an era. That doesn’t take anything away from what this England side has achieved. We can be all doom and gloom and say, ‘get rid of the lot of them’ but they have given us six or seven years of absolutely brilliant white-ball cricket,” he concluded

In this crucial juncture of the World Cup, England must heed Nasser Hussain’s call and produce a spirited performance against India to salvage their campaign. The match on Sunday promises to be a thrilling contest, with both teams vying for supremacy in a tournament that has already witnessed its share of surprises and upsets.