XtraTime Web Desk: Virat Kohli playing brilliantly so far in the ongoing test series against England as he scored 544 runs in eight innings But, in his second overseas assignment as captain this year, he has failed after suffering a series defeat to England on Sunday.
Not only the skipper but also Cheteswar Pujara did well in the series apart from that entire batting unit collapsed. Overdependency on Virat Kohli is the main cause of India’s defeat feels legendary Indian all-rounder Kapil Dev.
“Cricket is a team game, it is not dependent on one or two players,” Kapil was said on Tuesday. “Virat Kohli got 500-plus runs and Joe Root could not do much. But that could not stop England from winning.”
India wasn’t a far away from winning Edgbaston and Southampton tests but failed to win both of them. Kapil felt that committing too many mistakes to allow England room to breathe and roar back was where the visitors lost the series.
“If all things had happened correctly, then India would have won the series. But bygones are bygones… Now I would like to see what positives India can take home despite the defeat. If you look back at the series, you will realise there were enough occasions when we were on the verge of finishing the matches in our favour. But we committed too many mistakes and allowed them to bounce back,” he said.
The Indian selectors have rested Kohli for the upcoming Asia Cup in the UAE and Rohit Sharma has been named as the captain.
So does that make India’s claim to defend their title a little weaker, Kapil replied, “I don’t believe the team will be weaker. It is a team game. Yes, he (Kohli) is an important player. You can rely on him. But whenever you start depending on one player, you are not going to win the series or the tournament. A few players are always important, but collectively you have to play like a team.”