'Kohli's private life has to come first, so it's a blow for India'

NEW DELHI: Former England skipper

Nasser Hussain

has voiced his support for

Virat Kohli

's decision to prioritize his private life, acknowledging the significant void the Indian batter's absence will create in the Test squad.
According to ESPNcricinfo, Kohli, who missed the first two Tests against England, will also be unavailable for the upcoming third and fourth Test matches in Rajkot and Ranchi.

Hussain commended Kohli for his illustrious career spanning over 15 years, recognizing him as one of the greatest batters in cricket history. "Virat Kohli is one of the greatest batters ever to play the game, and any series and any side will miss someone of the stature of Kohli," he stated.

Expressing understanding for

Kohli

's decision to prioritize family time, Hussain emphasized the need for the game to accommodate the needs of players, especially those with extensive international commitments.
While acknowledging the absence of Kohli's formidable presence in the batting lineup, Hussain noted that India possesses talented young batters who can step up in his absence.
"Kohli and his family and his private life have to come first, so it's a blow for India, but as we've seen, they've got a lot of very good young batters.

KL Rahul

, who was injured for the last game, played brilliantly in the last few months for India and in all formats. I think he'll come back in, so he'll add to their batting," Hussain remarked, emphasizing Rahul's potential impact on the team.

Considering the absence of Kohli and potential replacements, Hussain suggested that India might consider handing a Test debut to

Sarfaraz Khan

, who has showcased impressive form in domestic cricket.
As India prepares for the third Test of the five-match series against England in Rajkot on February 15, Hussain's insights underscore the challenges and opportunities the team faces in adapting to Kohli's absence and reshaping their batting lineup.
(With inputs from ANI)