England will play two Tests in Sri Lanka before travelling to India for four Tests.
England have arrived in Sri Lanka to play a two-match Test series that begins on January 14. Both the Tests will be held at the Galle International Stadium.
Subsequently, England are scheduled to play four Tests in India from February 5 to March 8.
According to Hussain, England will need their spinners to replicate the performance of the 2012 tour when Graeme Swann (20 wickets) and Monty Panesar (17 wickets) played a vital role to script a 2-1 Test series win.
He also mentioned that captain Root will have to score "big runs" if England want to create history in India.
“I’m optimistic about England’s chances in Sri Lanka but India will be a different kettle of fish," Hussain told MailSport.
“There was Alastair Cook’s successful tour in 2012 and David Gower’s before that but not many England teams have won there. If they are going to win in India one of the spinners will have to do what Graeme Swann and Monty Panesar did.
“And if they are going to win in Australia they will need that extra pace of Jofra Archer, Mark Wood or Olly Stone.”
“An England captain can survive winning while not getting runs, or getting runs while not winning, but it is very hard to survive losing Tests while not making those big runs. Root has the ability to score big runs and set up those wins in this pivotal year,” Hussain added.
The first two Test matches of the upcoming series against India will be played in Chennai, while Ahmedabad will stage the remaining two Tests.