Former cricketers heap praise on Virat Kohli ahead of his 500th international match

Star India batter Virat Kohli is all set to play his 500th international game as India will take on West Indies for the second Test of a two-match series in Port of Spain, Trinidad. With this, the 34-year-old will become the fourth Indian cricketer to appear in 500 international matches, having played 110 Tests, 274 ODIs and 115 T20Is till now, with over 25,000 runs across all formats.

With so many records to his name, Kohli is all set to take on the Windies for the historic Test match as this will also be the 100th Test between both sides. Ahead of this historic game, Kohli received lots of appreciation from the former cricketers, including the Head coach Rahul Dravid, Aakash Chopra, Wasim Jaffer and Pragyan Ojha. Let’s have a look at the different opinions of the former cricketers.

Rahul Dravid

Current Indian team Head Coach Rahul Dravid said that Kohli’s work ethics and the efforts he put into the game are second to none. He believes that Kohli’s longevity in the game has come due to his hard work and sacrifices.

“He’s a real inspiration to so many players within this team without a doubt, to so many boys and girls in India. His numbers and stats speak for itself, his performances – it’s all there in the book. But I think for me what’s great to see first-hand is the effort and work he puts behind the scenes when no one’s watching. That’s reflecting in the fact that he’s going to be playing 500 games,” Dravid was quoted as saying by The Cricket Lounge.

“He’s still very strong, very fit, the energy and enthusiasm despite playing 500 games and being around here for 12-13 years now, it’s truly fantastic. That’s not come easy, that’s come because of a lot of hard work behind the scenes, lot of sacrifices that he has made through his career and he’s willing to continue to make.”

Aakash Chopra

The cricketer-turned-commentator Aakash Chopra said that Kohli’s dedication towards the game is his defining thing. The Ex-Indian opener stated that the right-handed batter “has lived his life like a monk” Indian cricket is thankful for his contribution to the team.

“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 on Jio Cinema.

Wasim Jaffer

Wasim Jaffer has been following Kohli’s game as a commentator and an expert for the past 15 years. The domestic cricket legend hailed Kohli for his longevity and pointed out that not every athlete has been able to play 500 international matches.

“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,” Jaffer said.

Pragyan Ojha

Former Indian spinner Pragyan Ojha has appeared in 22 international matches with Kohli from 2008 to 2013. Having viewed Kohli as a young and rising star, Ojha stated it as a special moment for a cricketer and hoped on the former Indian skipper to perform well even beyond his 500th international match.

“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,” Ojha said.