Virat Kohli, the dynamic Indian batsman, is on the cusp of another phenomenal achievement as he prepares to take the field for second India vs West Indies Test at the Queen’s Park Oval in Trinidad. This landmark match will mark his 500th appearance in international cricket for India, a feat achieved by only a select few Indian batters, including the iconic Sachin Tendulkar, the legendary MS Dhoni, and the current head coach Rahul Dravid.
In the history of Indian cricket, Kohli will become only the fourth player to reach the milestone of playing 500 or more international games. At the top of the list stands the evergreen Sachin Tendulkar with a remarkable 664 appearances since his debut in 1989. Following closely is MS Dhoni with 538 games, and then Rahul Dravid with 509 appearances.
WATCH – Harmanpreet Kaur’s Mic Drop Moment: Presenter’s Slip-Up Amuses Fans
To celebrate this momentous occasion, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) paid a special tribute to Kohli with a heartwarming Twitter post, congratulating him on his 500th international match for #TeamIndia.
500 reasons to admire the journey!
Congratulations to Virat Kohli on his 5️⃣0️⃣0️⃣th international match for #TeamIndia 🇮🇳🫡#WIvIND | @imVkohli pic.twitter.com/Y9lez80Q97
— BCCI (@BCCI) July 20, 2023
The cricketing experts were effusive in their praise for the outstanding Indian batsman. The Jio Cinema commentary panel, featuring Aakash Chopra, Pragyan Ojha, and Wasim Jaffer, all lauded Kohli for his immense dedication and passion for the game.
Aakash Chopra remarked, “Virat Kohli’s dedication for the game is very evident and, in fact, defines him. The way he has lived his life like a monk where it has only been about cricket. That is the reason he has reached where he is today and is a brand ambassador of the beautiful game. We are all thankful for what he has done for Indian cricket and for cricket in general.”
WATCH – Jonny Bairstow’s Spectacular Catch Steals The Show In England vs Australia Test
Pragyan Ojha also acknowledged the significance of Kohli’s achievement and hoped that it serves as motivation for him to continue delivering outstanding performances for the country.
Wasim Jaffer applauded Kohli’s longevity and consistency, emphasizing how his fitness, discipline, and determination have enabled him to achieve remarkable success, including scoring 75 centuries in international cricket. Jaffer sees Kohli as a role model for cricketers worldwide and believes there is still much more cricket left in him.
