Nasser Hussain has reflected on one of his most vivid memories from the rich history of India-England Test encounters, and unsurprisingly, it involves Virat Kohli—a man who, as Hussain puts it, transformed Indian cricket with his intensity and unrelenting spirit. While Kohli’s retirement from Test cricket last month marked the end of an era, Hussain believes his presence in the format elevated the drama, quality, and passion of the game.
Recalling the iconic Lord’s Test in 2021, Nasser Hussain said it wasn’t just a memorable Indian win by 151 runs, but a moment when the Indian side fully embodied the combative energy of their captain.
“I was asked recently by the ECB about my favourite India-England moment. There have been many, but the one that stuck with me was the final morning at Lord’s. India, under Kohli, just unleashed hell,” he said on Sky Sports.
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That morning, England were chasing a target but were met with relentless hostility from Siraj, Bumrah, and Shami, all of whom mirrored Kohli’s fire and intensity. “The team became a mirror image of Kohli — feisty, in-your-face, fearless. It wasn’t just cricket; it was a statement,” Hussain remarked.
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While Kohli won’t don the whites again, having ended his Test career after a modest showing against Australia (190 runs in nine innings), his absence will be deeply felt. Yet, Hussain acknowledged the game will evolve. “We moved from Gavaskar to Tendulkar to Kohli, and maybe now to Gill. But Kohli added something truly special to Test cricket,” he said.
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Nasser Hussain also praised Kohli’s deep-rooted passion for the red-ball format. Referencing RCB’s maiden IPL win, Hussain highlighted Kohli’s post-match comments where he declared that the victory, while special, still ranked five levels below a Test match win. “That’s a message to the next generation — Test cricket is where legacies are forged,” Hussain concluded.
