Virat Kohli at 500: Star batter feels grateful and blessed ahead of landmark moment

By India Today Sports Desk: Virat Kohli has said that he feels very grateful and blessed to have had such a long journey playing for India as he gets set for his 500th international appearance for the national team on Thursday.

The second Test between West Indies and India at Port of Spain, Trinidad will mark the landmark moment for Kohli, who has been one of India’s finest cricketers of this generation, since making his debut in 2008.

Since his first game, in his illustrious career spanning over 15 years, Kohli has scored more than 25,000 runs across all formats and has notched up 75 centuries and 131 half-centuries.

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Speaking on a video released ahead of his 500th appearance, Kohli said that he feels grateful and blessed to have played that many games for India and have a long Test career.

The star batter said that he feels happy to see the hard work he has put in has helped him have a long career and get results as well.

“I’m really grateful. I feel very blessed that I have had such a long journey playing for India and such a long Test career. Because I really had to work hard for it and it makes you feel happy about the hard work that you have put in to see the longevity in the game and the results over the years as well. So, I’m very grateful,” said Kohli.

India coach Rahul Dravid had praised Kohli as well ahead of his landmark moment and said that he is an inspiration to his teammates and young cricketers in India.

“I think it is fantastic and he (Kohli) is an inspiration to so many players within this team and to so many boys and girls back home in India,” Dravid said ahead of the second Test against the West Indies.

“His numbers and his stats speak for themselves and his performances are all there in the (record) books.”