“When Kohli Said ‘Unleash Hell’: Nasser Hussain Reveals The Lord’s Moment That Still Haunts Him”
The fire, the fury, and the finish — how Virat Kohli’s 2021 Lord’s speech became a defining moment in India vs England Test history

London, June 20: If you’ve followed Virat Kohli’s Test career with even half a heart, chances are you already know the moment. No bat was lifted, no stumps cartwheeled. Just a huddle. A circle of warriors. And a captain, eyes blazing, voice rising: “For 60 overs, they should feel hell.”
That wasn’t just a line—it was a war cry. And now, years later, it’s still ringing in the ears of former England skipper Nasser Hussain, who says that moment at Lord’s in 2021 is the one that refuses to fade.
Lord’s, 2021: The Cauldron Ignites
The stage was Day 5, second Test. A balmy London afternoon. England needed 272, and they had 60 overs. The game hung delicately—tilting, almost. And then Kohli gathered his troops.
You could see it on the broadcast—the intensity in that circle was different. Kohli wasn’t giving instructions. He was lighting a fuse. Pointing, growling, psyching up his fast bowlers like a general before battle.
And the fire lit that day? It burned England’s batting to ashes.
Jasprit Bumrah came in with eyes locked. Mohammed Shami followed, red-ball on a string. Siraj? Just pure venom. Ishant Sharma, the veteran, bowled like it was his last day on Earth. England crumbled. The crowd at the Home of Cricket? Shell-shocked. India? Pandemonium.
From the commentary box, even Hussain could feel it. “That side became the mirror image of Virat’s character,” he said this week on Sky Sports. And you know what? He’s absolutely right.
Not Just A Win — A Statement
That day wasn’t about taking 10 wickets. It was about pride. Grit. A team that had been told for decades they couldn’t win overseas—proving not only that they could, but that they could dominate.
Lord’s wasn’t just a win. It was a message. From Kohli to the world: “This is how India plays now.”
It’s the kind of memory you don’t forget—not if you love Test cricket. And for Hussain, a man who’s seen more than most, it’s still stuck in his head. “It may not have been my favourite,” he admitted, “but it’s the one that stuck with me the most.”
The Curtain Falls — But The Fire Remains
Last month, Kohli called time on his 14-year Test career. No more battle cries in whites. No more fourth-innings fist pumps. And yes, he’s still out there, smashing it in the IPL—Royal Challengers Bengaluru just won their maiden title with him at the helm—but for the red-ball purists, the void feels… real.
But Kohli didn’t leave without one final speech—this time for the next generation.
“Treat that format with respect,” he urged. “You walk around anywhere in the world, people shake your hand and say, well done. That’s Test cricket.”
And just like his Lord’s pep talk, those words hit deep. Nasser noticed. “What he told the next generation—that is the way you make your name in Test match cricket,” he said, clearly moved by the gesture.
Who Carries The Flame Now?
With Kohli gone, who fills that role? Shubman Gill? Maybe. The kid has the flair, sure. But does he have that Kohli fire? That “unleash hell” energy?
Hard to say.
What’s certain, though, is that Kohli changed the way India approached away Tests. No more playing for draws. No more polite smiles in post-match pressers. Under him, India punched first—and usually punched last.
And that Lord’s moment? It was Kohli in full roar. No helmet. No bat. Just a man and his belief. Sixty overs of hell, delivered.
So yeah, you can keep your cover drives and your match-saving tons. For fans who felt every heartbeat of the Kohli era, it’s that huddle—the fire in his voice, the storm that followed—that we’ll never forget.
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Ankit Tiwari is a Reporting Fellow at Hindustan Herald, dedicated to bringing readers comprehensive daily coverage of the world of sports. A student at Jamia Millia Islamia, Delhi, Ankit combines his academic pursuit with a deep understanding of various sports, from major international tournaments to emerging local talent. His daily reporting aims to capture the excitement, strategy, and human stories that define athletic competition.