As India embarks on a new Test cricket chapter under Shubman Gill’s captaincy, former England skipper Nasser Hussain has paid a heartfelt tribute to Virat Kohli, calling him one of the most influential figures in modern-day Test cricket. Speaking on Sky Sports ahead of the first Test of the Anderson–Tendulkar Trophy at Headingley, Hussain remarked,
“Test match cricket is so much better when Kohli was playing. We will move on—from Gavaskar to Tendulkar to Kohli and maybe now to Gill. But Kohli added so much to this game of cricket.”
🔥 Remembering Kohli’s Fiery Leadership
Hussain recalled Kohli’s iconic team huddle during the 2021 Lord’s Test, where he urged his players to “unleash hell” on England’s batting lineup.
“That side became a mirror image of Kohli—the feistiness of Siraj, Bumrah, Shami… in-your-face cricket,” he said.
🏏 A Symbolic Shift in Indian Cricket
With Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and R Ashwin absent, India’s new-look squad features debutant Sai Sudharsan and returning batter Karun Nair. Gill, leading India for the first time in Tests, confirmed Sudharsan would bat at No. 3.
The match not only marks the start of a high-stakes series but also symbolizes the post-Kohli era in Indian cricket—a transition from aggression and charisma to a new brand of leadership under Gill.
Stay tuned for more updates from the Anderson–Tendulkar Trophy.
