Viv Richards Says He Could Not Believe Virat Kohli Would Score A Double Ton

Virat Kohli created history when he became the first Indian skipper to smash a double century in overseas Tests. He bettered the previous mark set by Mohammad Azharuddin against New Zealand in Auckland in 1990.

Kohli also notched up the highest individual score by an Indian batsman in Tests in the West Indies and it continued his magnificent form across all formats in 2016. His celebration after reaching the double century, where he knelt and kissed the turf at the Sir Vivian Richards stadium in Antigua, drew immense praise from the West Indies legend himself.

Speaking to the official BCCI website, Richards said he did not believe his blessings would motivate Kohli so much.

"I remember when I met him at the hotel (before the Test series) I did say good luck, but I didn't believe he would take it this far in terms of achieving a double. As a batsman myself, it was very pleasing to see and even though it was against the West Indies, I do appreciate seeing class and his was a classy knock. I think it was a magnificent hundred. To score a double hundred at Sir Vivian Richards Cricket Ground is a formidable task in terms of what he has achieved," Richards said.

Kohli smashed 973 runs in the 2016 Indian Premier League and in his first Test of 2016, Kohli broke his jinx as he registered his first hundred against the West Indies.

"I think it's very special and for those of us here in Antigua and Barbuda (too), who appreciate seeing good knocks and seeing good batsmen perform. Those who weren't here missed something, but I saw it and I am happy to say that it's the first time I saw (Virat) Kohli make century and to see him complete the double. I was here to speak, so I had a very good seat and I thoroughly enjoyed that," Richards added.

-With Inputs From PTI-