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'Virat Kohli's Absence Gives England Hope For First Two Tests', Says Nasser Hussain

image-lrq6n272Virat Kohli will miss India's first two Tests versus England [X.com]

Any India side that features Virat Kohli becomes a firm favourite heading into any encounter. However, Kohli opted out of the first two Tests against England for 'personal reasons', which, as per former English skipper Nasser Hussain, provides Ben Stokes and Co. with an opportunity to beat India.

India and England will clash in the high-anticipated five-Test series, named 'Anthony de Mello Trophy', which commences on January 25 at Hyderabad.

Speaking to Daily Mail, Hussain stated that the former India captain's unavailability gives England a glimmer of hope to get a positive start to the series.


'Any team would suffer when a player of Kohli's class drops out'- Nasser Hussain

“My first thought is that we wish Virat well. Like Brook, he's taken a step back for personal reasons, and everyone in the game should respect that. He's also been in great form, and his absence from Thursday's first Test at Hyderabad and next week's second at Visakhapatnam deprives fans all over the world from watching a genius at work," said Hussain.

"That said, any team would suffer when a player of Kohli's class drops out, and it gives England a glimmer of hope in the first two Tests of a series in which they begin as clear underdogs," he added.

Meanwhile, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is yet to announce the replacement of Kohli, who last featured for India in South Africa during the 1-1 drawn Test series.