Heir apparent

As a fidgety fourteen-year-old, Nasser Hussain dreaded Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. And, it wasn8217;t maths classes at school that h...

As a fidgety fourteen-year-old, Nasser Hussain dreaded Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. And, it wasn8217;t maths classes at school that he was loath to attend thrice a week. Father Aga Hussain half-persuaded, half-insisted that the son accompany him to the Bombay Gymkhana fields for a scrum or two at the rugby team8217;s practice sessions. And a reluctant Nasser hated the first fortnight he was dragged there.

Eleven years down the line, Hussain Jr leads India onto the same Gymkhana grounds for its two key Orange World Cup qualifiers at home and admits he is glad he was forced into playing the game. It is more than rugby8217;s robust genes that Nasser, 25, inherits from Aga Hussain, India8217;s first international captain.

8216;8216;The sport is such that there is also a sense of carrying forward the tradition,8217;8217; Nasser says.

8216;8216;It was a special feeling since it was India8217;s first Test match ever,8217;8217; Nasser recalls, made doubly exciting because the duo played together. But he didn8217;t last too long on the field,8217;8217; Nasser had noted with a smirk.

While Aga Hussain, now the manager of the team states unabashedly that his son is playing better quality rugby than he even ventured into in his prime times, the father needed some convincing when he watched the teenager being singled out by the lofty Singaporean opponents.

8216;8216;They targeted him because he was our youngest player and brought him down from a high ball for a very nasty tackle. I told myself then that if he got up and resumed playing he would never look back. He got going, and I knew he would go all the way,8217;8217; he says.

It is hardly coincidental that Nasser plays loose forward, a position his father vacated before hanging up his boots. Mirroring his father8217;s physique, Nasser was best suited to play the scrum-half8217;s closest aide. But it was also the attitude that trickled down to the son nicely fitted in as the last man in the scrum. Rugby was not as physical or pacy when Aga Hussain regularly guided his Bombay Gymkhana boys to the national title.

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And Nasser, several paces quicker after a stint at the Newcastle University and games in the Third Division in England says that one dissimilar trait is that he is 8216;8216;way faster8217;8217; than his father.

Shivani Naik

Shivani Naik is a senior sports journalist and Assistant Editor at The Indian Express. She is widely considered one of the leading voices in Indian Olympic sports journalism, particularly known for her deep expertise in badminton, wrestling, and basketball. Professional Profile Role: Assistant Editor and Columnist at The Indian Express. Specialization: While she covers a variety of sports, she is the primary authority on badminton for the publication. She also writes extensively about tennis, track and field, wrestling, and gymnastics. Writing Style: Her work is characterized by "technical storytelling"—breaking down the biomechanics, tactics, and psychological grit of athletes. She often provides "long reads" that explore the personal journeys of athletes beyond the podium. Key Topics & Recent Coverage (Late 2025) Shivani Naik’s recent articles (as of December 2025) focus on the evolving landscape of Indian sports as athletes prepare for the 2026 Asian Games and beyond: Indian Badminton's "Hulks": She has recently written about a new generation of Indian shuttlers characterized by power and physicality, such as Ayush Shetty and Sathish Karunakaran, marking a shift from the traditionally finesse-based Indian style. PV Sindhu’s Resurgence: A significant portion of her late-2025 work tracks PV Sindhu’s tactical shifts under new coaching, focusing on her "sparkle" and technical tweaks to break out of career slumps. The "Group of Death": In December 2025, she provided detailed tactical previews for Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty’s campaign in the BWF World Tour Finals. Tactical Deep Dives: She frequently explores technical trends, such as the rise of "backhand deception" in modern badminton and the importance of court drift management in international arenas. Legacy and History: She often revisits the careers of legends like Saina Nehwal and Syed Modi, providing historical context to current Indian successes. Notable Recent Articles BWF World Tour Finals: Satwik-Chirag have it all to do to get through proverbial Group of Death. (Dec 2025) The age of Hulks in Indian badminton is here. (Dec 2025) Treadmill, Yoganidra and building endurance: The themes that defined the resurgence of Gayatri and Treesa. (Dec 2025) Ayush Shetty beats Kodai Naraoka: Will 20-year-old be the headline act in 2026? (Nov 2025) Modern Cinderella tale – featuring An Se-young and a shoe that fits snugly. (Nov 2025) Other Sports Interests Beyond the court, Shivani is a passionate follower of South African cricket, sometimes writing emotional columns about her irrational support for the Proteas, which started because of love for Graeme Smith's dour and doughty Test playing style despite being a left-hander, and sustained over curiosity over their heartbreaking habit of losing ICC knockouts. You can follow her detailed analysis and columns on her official Indian Express profile page. ... Read More