'It is set up perfectly...' - Nasser Hussain expects stronger Indian side in last three games against England as Virat Kohli and other big names may return

Former England captain Nasser Hussain feels the five-match Test series between India and England is "set up perfectly" after the hosts' massive win in Visakhapatnam. England stunned India in Hyderabad but the latter bounced back hard in the second Test to level the series and spice up the rivalry. Notably, the Men in Blue were without some of the big names to counter the 'bazball' attack. 

Advertisment

While star batter Virat Kohli missed the first two matches due to personal reasons, KL Rahul and Ravindra Jadeja could not take part in the Vizag Test due to injuries. Right-arm pacer Mohammad Shami is absent from the squad due to injury and is unlikely to return before the third Test on February 15. While there are no confirmations yet on Kohli's return when the two sides meet in Rajkot, Hussain is expecting the right-hander to join the Indian camp for the remainder of the series.

There has been no official word from Kohli himself or the Indian Cricket Board as to the exact reason behind tthe former's last-minute withdrawal. However, Kohli's friend and former Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) star AB de Villiers has revealed that the batting stalwart and his wife Anushka Sharma are gearing up to welcome their second child.

I think it will be a tight series: Nasser Hussain

Advertisment

Hussian, who expects at least Kohli and Rahul to be back in the squad for the upcoming match, believes India will come back even harder against England. The 55-year-old has warned Ben Stokes and Co. to up their game in the remaining three matches. 

"It is set up perfectly, with three Tests to play. I think it will be a tight series but England are going to have to expect India to come back even harder. India have missed quite a few key players so far," Hussain said as quoted from Sky Sports.

"Mohammad Shami, I think, is out for the series, Ravi Jadeja could well be out for another Test match and Virat Kohli has been out of the first two. We are talking about some serious cricketers there. Kohli may well come back in, KL Rahul also, so I would expect a stronger Indian side in those last three games of the series. England will know that they're going to have to up their game," he added. 

India defeated England by 106 runs to level the series 1-1. Yashasvi Jaiswal's double century in the first innings laid the platform, with Jasprit Bumrah doing the rest with his magical spell. The veteran pacer took six wickets in the first innings and helped India restrict the visitors well below their total. Shubman Gill's gritty knock (104) in the second innings played a crucial role before the Indian spinners and Bumrah wreaked havoc to defend the 399-run target.