‘Set up perfectly’: Nasser expects India to come back harder

NEW DELHI: Former

England

skipper

Nasser Hussain

believes India’s emphatic win in the second Test has set the stage for a riveting series, anticipating a resilient Indian side to come back “even harder” in the upcoming matches.
Yashasvi Jaiswal

‘s stunning 209,

Shubman Gill

‘s century, and a clinical bowling display secured a 106-run victory for India, leveling the series at 1-1.

With key players like KL Rahul,

Virat Kohli

, and Ravindra Jadeja likely to join the squad, Hussain expects a formidable Indian team for the remainder of the series.

“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,” commented Hussain as quoted from Sky Sports, highlighting the potential return of key players for India.

“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.

Hussain praised the “magical” performance of

Jasprit Bumrah

, emphasizing the impact of his exceptional bowling spell that played a crucial role in India’s victory.

“It was a fantastic Test match. Brilliant pitch and brilliant sides going hard at each other. One way or the other England are fighting hard as they often do. They often give away a first-inning lead as they did in the first Test. But they fought back well with their performance yesterday. And I think it was really the magic of Jasprit Bumrah. He got 3 today, but that spell in the first innings – 6 for 40 odd, blew away England for 250 on a really good flat pitch. The magic of Bumrah and the ball to

Ollie Pope

, that spell he bowled was, in the end, the difference between the two sides,” Hussain concluded.
The series now moves to Rajkot for the third Test scheduled for February 15.

(With inputs from ANI)