Virat Kohli, the illustrious Indian cricket star, is set to achieve a remarkable milestone as he gears up for the second Test against West Indies in Trinidad on Thursday. With the Indian team leading the series 1-0, all eyes will be on Kohli as he prepares to become only the fourth player in India to represent the country in 500 or more international games, joining the elite company of Sachin Tendulkar, MS Dhoni, and Rahul Dravid. The upcoming match also marks the historic 100th Test encounter between the two teams.
As he approaches this significant achievement, Kohli expressed his gratitude and the joy of reaching this point in his cricketing career. In a video shared by the BCCI, he acknowledged the hard work he had put in to sustain a long and successful journey with the Indian team.
“I’m really grateful. I feel 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. It really makes you feel happy about the hard work that you have put in. You see the longevity in the game and the results over the years as well. I’m very grateful,” Virat Kohli said.
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Meanwhile, the current head coach of the Indian cricket team, Rahul Dravid, heaped praise on Kohli for his passion and dedication to the sport. Dravid highlighted the key aspects that contribute to a player’s longevity when representing the country.
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
“It’s a terrific achievement. The number of games that you have played is a reflection of a lot of things; your ability, your adaptability, your fitness, your desire, your hunger, on how passionate you are about the game. So, there are so many things when you speak about longevity. If you slip up on any of these areas, probably you won’t be able to have as long a career as Virat has achieved,” Rahul Dravid said.
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“That has been really impressive, and the way he has been able to play all three formats of the game and adapt to it. If you want to play as long as he has and put in those kinds of performances, you need to tick all the boxes. He not just has done that but continues to do that which is great to watch,” Rahul Dravid added.
As Virat Kohli steps onto the field for his 500th international game, cricket fans around the world will be eagerly watching to witness this historic moment in the sport’s history. His dedication, passion, and consistent performances have solidified his position as one of cricket’s modern-day legends.
