it's there in the book. For me...' Dravid's big decision, Kohli ready for 500th match

 

Virat Kohli will play his 500th international match on Thursday against West Indies in the 2nd Test at Port of Spain.

Team India's star batsman Virat Kohli will reach a milestone on Thursday when he will become the 10th player to reach 500 international matches. In the second and final Test of the series against West Indies, Kohli would achieve this feat and become the fourth player to play 500 matches for India along with Sachin Tendulkar, Mahendra Singh Dhoni, and current head coach Rahul Dravid. Kohli made his debut in 2008, and will probably be the only player in the history of the game to claim an average of 50+ in 500 or more games.

In the last year, the 34-year-old former India captain has had a tough time in international cricket, even as Kohli took a month-long break in August last year. However, he made a spectacular comeback a month later in the Asia Cup and never looked back after that. Since scoring his maiden century in T20Is in the continental tournament, Kohli has added three more centuries to his credit, his last being against Australia during a Test in March this year.

India head coach Rahul Dravid said he likes to look beyond the numbers

However, fans are used to seeing Kohli scoring hundreds at a more regular pace and thus, would be hoping that the batsman gets closer to the three-figure mark with his 500th international appearance. However, India head coach Rahul Dravid said that he preferred to look beyond the statistics and instead chose to focus on Kohli's effort and overall impact.

“I didn’t know that this is his 500th game. I am not a great one for numbers. It’s great to hear that. It’s fantastic; he’s a real inspiration to so many players within this team without a doubt and to so many boys and girls back home in India," Dravid said during his interaction wit reporters ahead of the second Test in Port of Spain.

"His numbers and his stats speak for themselves - it’s all there in the book. For me, what’s been great to see first-hand has been the effort and the work that he puts in behind the scenes when no one is watching. That is reflected in the fact that he has been able to play 500 games," he added.

Dravid says Kohli's dedication to fitness is an inspiration to his fellow teammates

Dravid insisted that Kohli's dedication to fitness and his demeanor is an inspiration to his fellow teammates. The former India captain brought about a fitness revolution of sorts when he took over the leadership role in the Indian team; It is no surprise then that some of the team's most successful periods in the longest format of the game came under Kohli. The team won an away series in Australia, posted an exemplary record at home, and beat England 2–1 in 2021 before the fifth match was postponed, eventually being played under the captaincy of Jasprit Bumrah after Kohli stepped down from the role.

“That’s not come easy, that’s come because of a lot of hard work behind the scenes, a lot of sacrifices that he has made throughout his career and he’s willing to continue to make. That’s something that is great for a coach because you can see a lot of young players will look to that and be inspired by that,” Dravid continued.

“You don’t have to say anything. Just by the way you conduct yourself, the way you go about practices, your fitness, [that] becomes an inspiration for a lot of other young players who are coming through the system. Hopefully, they follow that and they are inspired by Virat to play so many games. Longevity comes with a lot of hard work, discipline, and adaptability. He’s shown all of that, so long may it continue."