IND vs ENG 2024: They’re not a side to be messed with – Nasser Hussain hails England after Hyderabad win

Former England skipper Nasser Hussain showered praise on the Ben Stokes-led team after they registered a stunning victory of 28 runs in the opening Test match against India at Hyderabad on Sunday. The visitors were under the cosh as they conceded a huge lead of 190 runs after the first innings.

However, England proved their mettle as Ollie Pope scored a magnificent knock of 196 runs to help the tourists post 420 runs on the board in the second essay, taking a lead of 230 runs.

Subsequently, India was skittled out for 202 runs in the second innings as none of the Indian batters could go past the 40-run mark.

“What I like about them is their stubbornness. If you doubt them, they’ll double down on it and go even more stubborn. The present regime know what they want. They’re going to stick with that and even when they’re behind, they will back the cricketers to turn it around. They have shown they are a side not to be messed with,” Hussain wrote for Sky Sports.

Hussain reckons India will rue their soft dismissals in the first innings. The hosts could have scored more runs but lost their last three wickets without adding a solitary run.

“India will probably rue their first innings. They got 436 but actually they could have got a lot more if not for some sloppy dismissals. They will come back. They are a very fine side and history tells you it will be tough for England here. But it is a wake-up call for India as England have shown Bazball can work in these conditions,” Hussain added.

India was not at their best with both bat and ball on the last two days of the Test match and thus had to pay the price.

The second Test match between India and England will be played at Dr. Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium, Visakhapatnam from 2nd February.