Virat Kohli’s absence makes Nasser Hussain sad during India vs England 1st Test
Published - 21 Jun 2025, 04:07 PM | Updated - 21 Jun 2025, 05:20 PM
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Former England captain Nasser Hussain has shared a powerful memory from one of the England-India Test series that still sticks with him, and it’s all about Virat Kohli’s energy and passion. Currently, India and England are battling it out for the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy, and Virat Kohli is not part of the tour for the first time since 2011.
The former Indian captain retired from Test cricket weeks before the England tour. However, he is still ruling the headlines for what he has done as a player and captain in the red-ball game. After the end of Day 1’s play at Headingley, Nasser Hussain recalled the final day of the second Test at Lord’s back in 2021, where India was defending a target of 272 runs in 60 overs.
Nasser Hussain recalls Virat Kohli's fiery 2021 team huddle
Just before England came out to bat, Kohli gathered his team and gave them a fierce message in a team huddle. The former Indian captain told his bowlers to make sure England “feel hell” during those 60 overs. That fiery speech lit a spark in the Indian cricket team.
And then India’s fast bowlers Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, and Mohammed Siraj bowled with aggression and fire. They crushed England’s hopes and helped India win the Lord’s Test by 151 runs in the final hour of play.
Read Also: Sunil Gavaskar does a big U-turn on Rishabh Pant after ripping him apart in Australia
Nasser Hussain shares a Virat Kohli moment that has stuck with him
Meanwhile, the celebrated broadcaster said that Kohli’s fiery huddle speech on the final day at Lord’s in 2021 is something unforgettable for him.
Nasser Hussain said on Sky Sports, “I was asked about my favorite India-England moment, historically. There have been so many. It may not have been my favorite, but it is the one that stuck with me the most. In the huddle that last morning at Lord’s when England was trying to chase the score, he was in the huddle pointing at every Indian player, telling them to unleash hell on that England batting lineup for 60 overs.”
Hussain said that the Indian cricket team that day looked like a reflection of Kohli himself - fierce energy, bold, intense, and fearless. He added, “They unleashed hell, and their side became a sort of mirror image of Kohli, the character, the feistiness of Siraj, Bumrah in your face, Shami in your face.”
Test cricket is so much better when Virat Kohli was playing: Nasser Hussain
Paying tribute to the modern-era legend, the former England captain said that Test cricket felt more alive when Kohli was around. Hussain also namedropped Sunil Gavaskar and Sachin Tendulkar and mentioned India's new Test skipper Shubman Gill while praising the right-hander.
The Englishman said that cricket would see many legends, but Kohli’s impact remains unforgettable. Hussain further noted, “Test match cricket is so much better when Kohli was playing. We will move on. We moved on from Gavaskar to Tendulkar to Kohli and maybe to Gill, but Kohli added so much to this game of cricket.”
"Kohli added so much to this game of cricket" ✨ pic.twitter.com/gRvlpSNaZE
— Sky Sports Cricket (@SkyCricket) June 20, 2025
After winning the IPL, Virat Kohli urged young players to respect Test cricket, saying it’s the format that truly earns global respect. Hussain praised Kohli for his message to the young generation, saying his words show why Test cricket remains special and how it’s still the best way to build a lasting legacy.
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