Former England captain Nasser Hussain expressed concern over the potential absence of Virat Kohli from the upcoming matches in India's Test series against England, describing it as a significant setback for both Indian cricket and the global game. As India prepares to announce their squad for the remaining Tests, speculation is rife about Kohli missing at least two of the games, following his withdrawal from the initial two matches in Hyderabad and Visakhapatnam for personal reasons, with Rajat Patidar stepping in as his substitute.
"Yeah, well, nothing's confirmed at the moment. There's speculation, whether it's the next two Test matches, they're going to announce their side in the next few hours. Whether it's the next three Test matches, so nothing's confirmed, but it will be a blow," Hussain was quoted as saying on Sky Sports.
"It'll be a blow for India. It'll be a blow for the series. It'll be a blow for world cricket. It's going to be a special series. It already has been. The first two games have been fascinating," he added.
Kohli deserves time away from the game
Hussain, who holds Kohli in high regard as one of cricket's elite, emphasised the importance of granting Kohli the space he needs, acknowledging his extensive contribution to the sport over the past decade and beyond.
"And make no mistake, Kohli is one of the greatest batters to ever play the game and any series and any side would miss someone of the stature of Kohli. But first things first, and the game needs to look after the likes of Kohli as well. He's been playing international cricket for more than 15 years now, and if he needs a break to be away with family, just some time away from the game," he stated.
No Kohli vs Anderson battle
He also highlighted the eagerly anticipated clash between Virat Kohli and James Anderson, a key attraction in the series, while recognizing the importance of Kohli's personal commitments alongside his cricketing career.
"We wish Kohli all the best. It means we don't have the mouthwatering possibility of an Anderson-Kohli contest like we've seen over the years, so be it. But you know, Kohli and his family and his private life have to come first. So it's a blow for India," Hussain opined.
Furthermore, Hussain suggested that KL Rahul should be reinstated in the Indian lineup after missing the second Test due to a quadriceps issue.
"But as we've seen, they've got a lot of very good young batters and again speculating, KL Rahul, who was injured for the last game and has played brilliantly in the last few months for India in all formats, will come back in, so he'll add to their batting," Hussain said.
India's performance in the series thus far has been a mixed bag, with a 28-run defeat in the opening Test in Hyderabad followed by a convincing 106-run victory in Visakhapatnam to level the series.
The series is poised to continue with the third Test, which is set to commence on February 15 at the Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Rajkot. Hussain's comments shed light on the potential impact of Kohli's absence on the series, underscoring the balance between personal priorities and professional commitments in the lives of international cricketers.
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