England vs India 2018: India's Over-Reliance on Virat Kohli Led to Downfall - Fazeer Mohammed

Cricket commentator and journalist from Trinidad, Fazeer Mohammed is of the opinion the overreliance on Virat Kohli brought about the downfall of team India in the ongoing five-match Test series against England.

His comments came in the wake of yet another series defeat for India in the overseas conditions. India lost the fourth Test by 60 runs to surrender an unassailable lead of 3-1 to the home team. Chasing a target of 245, India crumbled after the fall of Virat Kohli’s wicket. They eventually lost the match 60 runs.

“What the series has shown. Apart from anything else is India has an unhealthy reliance on their captain to anchor the batting effort time and time again,” Mohammed was quoted as saying by Pak Passion.net.

Fazeer Mohammed feels Virat Kohli responded to the challenge brilliantly –

“Virat Kohli has responded to the challenge magnificently. But whenever his wicket falls, as occurred on the fourth day of the fourth Test in Southampton, Test cricket’s top nation immediately looks prone to collapse,” he added.

Meanwhile, the famous commentator also reflected on the decision of Alastair Cook to call it quits from international cricket. He said there was no doubt that Cook is an outstanding opening batsman. However, he is still not sure of the fact that whether he can get considered as one of the all-time greats.

“When you take into consideration the fact that he has played more Test cricket than anyone else, and in an era of generally batsman-friendly conditions, and against some pretty ordinary bowling attacks, it is highly debatable whether he should be placed ahead of the likes of Jack Hobbs, Len Hutton, Geoff Boycott and Cook’s own Essex mentor, Graham Gooch,” he said.

“Outstanding opening batsman, yes. One of the greats though? Well, that is debatable,” he added.

Alastair Cook will finish his Test career as the leading run-getter for England. He is the only English batsman to score more than 10,000 Test runs. It is indeed a great record.