Senior India batsman and former skipper Virat Kohli is set to become the 12th Indian player to play in 100 Test matches. He will achieve this landmark when he takes the field on Friday against Sri Lanka at the Punjab Cricket Association IS Bindra Stadium, Mohali.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), on Wednesday, posted a heartfelt tribute to their talisman batsman on the occasion of reaching his 100th Test. The video posted by the board comprises messages from legendary former Indian cricketers including Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar, Virender Sehwag and Sourav Ganguly.
While Tendulkar, Dravid, and Ganguly congratulated Kohli on his journey and achievements as a cricketer and captain with praiseful words, Sehwag, known for his witty sense of humour, lauded Kohli in his own style with a funny poetry that has got the fans chuckling.
“Mein toh kehta hoon: Haazme ki goli, tyohaar mein Holi aur batting mein Kohli, poore Bhaarat ko pasand hai,” said Sehwag, who has seen Kohli’s development for a young age when he captained Delhi and Kohli had come in as a youngster
Virat Kohli, sitting on 99 Tests, averages 50.39 at the moment – this is despite him not scoring a century for over two years, and what fans have been called “out of form” period for the run-machine. Kohli has scored 7962 runs in 99 Tests, having slammed 27 centuries, 7 of which are doubles, and 28 fifties.
India head coach Rahul Dravid termed this upcoming landmark of Kohli as a “fantastic achievement”.
“To be able to play one is great, to be able to play 100 is a fantastic achievement. It’s an achievement Virat Kohli can be very proud of,” said Dravid.
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Welcome to the 1⃣0⃣0⃣-Test club Virat Kohli ? ?#TeamIndia greats share their thoughts on @imVkohli‘s landmark Test, his achievements & the impact he’s had on Indian cricket. ? ?
Watch the full feature ? ?https://t.co/m135xwB2zt pic.twitter.com/gzN71BZnCn
— BCCI (@BCCI) March 2, 2022
Virat Kohli, meanwhile, also has a chance to create another record in his 100th Test: none of the 11 previous Indian players to have played in 100 Tests have scored a century in their 100th Test match. Should Kohli manage to do that he will become the first Indian batter to reach a three-figure score in his 100th Test, and finally be able to break his century less streak. Fans are hoping for Kohli to break his century dought in Mohali and make it an even more memorable game.
