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.
1/10:2nd Test: India beat England to level series
Reuters
2/10:Jasprit Bumrah
<p>Fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah took a match haul of nine wickets to lead India's 106-run win over England in the second Test on Monday and level the five-match series. </p>Reuters
3/10:Zak Crawley
<p>Chasing a record 399 for victory, England were bowled for 292 in the second session on day four in Visakhapatnam, despite an attacking start and Zak Crawley's 73. </p>Getty Images
4/10:3 wickets each
<p>Bumrah and spinner Ravichandran Ashwin took three each in the final innings and the pace spearhead bowled Tom Hartley to complete the win. </p>IANS
5/10:Shubman Gill
<p>Shubman Gill set up the comeback victory for India with his 104 on day three to set England, who won the opener, a daunting target. </p>IANS
6/10:Bazball
<p>England came out swinging with their "Bazball" brand of cricket, Crawley and company hitting boundaries despite losing wickets. </p>AFP
7/10:Axar Patel
<p>Left-arm spinner Axar Patel broke through when he trapped Rehan Ahmed lbw for 23, after the nightwatchman hit five fours in his 31-ball knock. </p>ANI
8/10:Ravichandran Ashwin
<p>Ollie Pope hammered five boundaries in his brief stay at the wicket, before Ashwin had him caught at slip by captain Rohit Sharma on 23. </p>ANI
9/10:Joe Root
<p>Joe Root fell for 16 while attempting a slog off Ashwin, who remains one away from entering the 500-wicket club. </p>PTI
10/10:Kuldeep Yadav
<p>The chase soon lost steam with two wickets in five balls before lunch, including Crawley out lbw off left-arm wrist spinner Kuldeep Yadav. </p>PTI"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)
