One of the greatest batters of all time, Virat Kohli is all set to play his 500th international match as India take on West Indies in the second Test of the series, starting July 20. Kohli, who stands sixth in the list of most runs scored and behind only Sachin Tendulkar in international centuries, Kohli will be the fourth Indian to achieve the milestone of 500 matches. Ahead of the historic match, former India stars like Aakash Chopra, Pragyan Ojha and Wasim Jaffer doffed their hats to Kohli, lauding his longevity in the sport that has seen him establish his stature as a true great.
"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," Chopra said as an expert on Jio Cinema.
Ojha too praised Kohli, calling the achievement as 'one more feather in the cap' moment, "This is a very special achievement. Very few get to achieve this feat. I hope this acts as a motivation for him and he keeps playing good knocks for the country and continues with his good form."
Jaffer also joined the bandwagon and lauded Kohli's longevity as he said, "Not everybody gets to play 500 matches and his longevity is praiseworthy - the way he has kept himself fit and consistent and continued playing well and scored 75 centuries in international cricket. It signifies his discipline, dedication, and determination. He has played 500 matches and there is a lot more cricket left in him. He is a role model for all cricketers across the world."