In a momentous occasion for Indian cricket, Virat Kohli is all set to represent India for the 500th time in his illustrious international career in the second match of the West Indies vs India Test series. This achievement places him among an elite group of players, with only four Indians and ten players worldwide achieving such a milestone.
Kohli’s journey to this historic moment has been nothing short of extraordinary. With an impressive record across all three formats of the game, he has amassed 75 centuries, second only to the legendary Sachin Tendulkar, who holds the record for 100 international tons. Kohli’s versatility is evident with over 100 appearances in each format, making him only the second player after Ross Taylor to achieve this remarkable feat.
As anticipation builds for the 100th-ever Test match between India and West Indies, Team India’s head coach, Rahul Dravid, shared his thoughts on Kohli’s achievement. Dravid commended the Delhi-born cricketer for his unwavering commitment to the game, highlighting his exceptional fitness, hunger, and passion for cricket. According to Dravid, these attributes are instrumental in Kohli’s longevity and consistent performance over the years, making him an inspiration for aspiring cricketers worldwide.
In a video shared by BCCI, Dravid stated, “I think it’s a terrific achievement. When you play this many number of games, it’s a reflection of your ability, adaptability, fitness, desire, hunger, it’s a reflection on how passionate you are about the game. So many things come into this when you talk about longevity because if you slip up on any of these areas probably you won’t be able to have a career like Virat.”
He further praised Kohli’s ability to excel in all three formats, facing diverse challenges from various bowlers and exhibiting exceptional skills. The former India skipper also emphasized that Kohli’s accomplishments have inspired countless young cricketers across India.
“I think that’s been really impressive, his performacnes and just the way he’s been able to play all the three formats and been able to adapt and maintain such a hight standard, his fitness, his hunger. He is been sort of thrown so many challenges, different kind of bowlers, different kind of skills he’s had to display and if you wanna play as long as he has then I think you need to tick all of those boxes. No doubt he is a big inspiration to a lot of young Indian boys and girls,” he added.
In response to his landmark achievement, Kohli expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to represent India in 500 international matches. He acknowledged the hard work and dedication it took to achieve this milestone and credited his success to the support of his teammates and the coaching staff.
“I’m really grateful; I feel very blessed that I’ve had such a long journey playing for India and such a long Test career because I really had to work hard for it, and it makes you feel happy about the hard work that you put in and to see the longevity in the game and the results over the year as well. So, I’m really grateful,” said Kohli.
500 & Counting 😃
Hear from #TeamIndia Head Coach Rahul Dravid and milestone man Virat Kohli ahead of a special occasion 👌🏻👌🏻#WIvIND | @imVkohli pic.twitter.com/cJBA7CVcOj
— BCCI (@BCCI) July 20, 2023
