On Day 1 of the second Test against the West Indies, Virat Kohli played a pivotal role in helping India recover after losing four wickets in the second session. It was a significant day for Kohli as he celebrated the milestone by displaying a patient innings that helped India regain the advantage against a spirited West Indies team on Day 1 of the second Test in Port-of-Spain.
Kohli finished the day with an unbeaten 87 runs off 161 balls, forming a crucial partnership with Ravindra Jadeja. The partnership between Kohli and Jadeja was worth 106 runs for the fifth wicket when play ended on Day 1.
Virat Kohli becomes the fourth Indian cricketer to play 500 international matches
Kohli appeared more confident on this day compared to the first Test, where he had scored 76 runs but had taken over 80 balls to hit his first boundary. In the Trinidad match, Kohli opened his account with a four. He reached his half-century milestone with an elegant cover-driven shot that went for four. This achievement made him the first player to score a half-century in his 500th international match.
Kohli joined an elite group of cricketers, becoming the 10th player in history to reach this landmark in international cricket, alongside the likes of Ricky Ponting, Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar, Mahela Jayawardene, Shahid Afridi, Kumar Sangakkara, Ricky Ponting, Sanath Jayasuriya, and Jacques Kallis.
Kohli now aims to continue his form and achieve his 30th Test century on the following day of the match. This would be his second Test century of the year, having previously scored 186 runs in the fourth Test against Australia in Ahmedabad. It would also mark his first Test century away from home since December 2018, when he scored 123 against Australia in Perth.
Reflecting on his achievement, Kohli expressed his gratitude for reaching this milestone and acknowledged the hard work he put in throughout his career. He feels blessed to have had such a long and successful journey playing for India, both in Tests and other formats.
Joining the exclusive “500 internationals club” for India, Kohli is the fourth player to achieve this feat. He had the opportunity to play alongside the other three players during various stages of his international career.
Sachin Tendulkar ended his illustrious career with 664 matches, and Rahul Dravid played 504 matches, Meanwhile, Dhoni, under whom Kohli made his international debut and later became captain, played 535 matches.
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