IND vs SL: ‘It’s a team game, journey wouldn’t been possible without you guys’ :Virat Kohli on 100th Test

Mohali: Virat Kohli on Friday became the 12th player to play 100 Test matches for India. In the long and illustrious history of Test cricket, Virat wrote his name in the record books as he became only the 71st player overall to complete a century of Tests in the format.

The 33-year-old was earlier in the day felicitated by his ‘childhood idol’ and team India head coach Rahul Dravid upon achieving the landmark. It was a joyous occasion for the 33-year-old, with his wife Anushka Sharma standing beside him. Kohli also thanked Dravid and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and his family for their continues support throughout.

“Thanks, Rahul bhai, it’s a special moment for me. My wife is here with me, my mom, and my brother is there in the stands. It’s a team game and the journey wouldn’t have been possible without you guys. Thanks to BCCI too,” Kohli said while receiving the award.

Speaking on the special occasion, Kohli recalled his first meeting and photo with Dravid in 2006 during his “U-15 NCA days”, he asserted he felt honoured to have received the special cap from the former India Test captain.

“I couldn’t have received it from a better person (Rahul Dravid), one of my childhood heroes. I still have the picture in my house from my U-15 NCA days, when I was looking at you while getting a picture with you! Today, I get my 100th Test cap from you, so indeed it has been a great journey and one that continues to grow hopefully.”

The 33-year-old Kohli became the 12th Indian cricketer after Sunil Gavaskar, Dilip Vengsarkar, Kapil Dev, Sachin Tendulkar, Anil Kumble, Rahul Dravid, Sourav Ganguly, VVS Laxman, Virender Sehwag, Harbhajan Singh and Ishant Sharma to play 100 Tests.

Kohli also said that he is extremely proud of of his longevity in the Test. Kohli also reckons he wants the “next generation” to take inspiration from the fact he could achieve the milestone despite playing in all three formats through a gruelling international schedule.

“The only thing I would say is in this day and age, with the amount of cricket we play – the three formats and the IPL, the only takeaway the next generation can take from my Test career is that I was able to strive through and play in the purest format of the game and get to 100 Tests which is something I’m proud of.” he concluded.

Kohli also ticked off another box in his long list of achievements as he passed the 8000-run mark in Tests during the first Test against Sri Lanka underway at the PCA stadium in Mohali on Friday. In 100 games so far, he has scored 8000 runs with a high score of 254. Playing his 100th Test, Kohli once again failed to convert it into a century as he was dismissed by Sri Lankan left-arm spinner Lasith Embuldeniya for 45 off 76 balls.

Kohli joins an elite list of Indian batters to have breached the 8000 run mark. Before him, Sachin Tendulkar (15921), Rahul Dravid  (13265), Sunil Gavaskar (10122), VVS Laxman (8781), and Virender Sehwag (8503) managed to surpass the milestone.