Virat Kohli will become only the fourth Indian player to appear in 500 international matches when the Rohit Sharma-led side takes on West Indies in the second Test which will be played in Trinidad from July 20, onwards.
Before Kohli, Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, and MS Dhoni achieved this feat for India.
Virat Kohli had made his India debut in an ODI in 2008 against Sri Lanka in Dambulla and his T20I debut came in 2010 against Zimbabwe in Harare, while he made his Test in 2011 against West Indies in Jamaica.
In all, Kohli has 25,461 runs across all international formats and has notched up 75 centuries and 131 half-centuries.
Ahead of Kohli’s massive achievement, former India opener Aakash Chopra paid rich tribute to his statemate from Delhi.
"Virat Kohli's dedication to the game is very evident and defines him. The way he has lived his life like a monk it has only been about cricket. That is the reason he has reached where he is today and is a brand ambassador of the beautiful game. We are all thankful for what he has done for Indian cricket and cricket in general," Chopra said as an expert on Jio Cinema.
Former India spinner Pragyan Ojha called it a very special achievement for the former India captain.
He said: "This is a very special achievement. Very few get to achieve this feat. I hope this acts as a motivation for him and he keeps playing good knocks for the country and continues with his good form."
Wasim Jaffer joined in and shared his tribute to Virat Kohli and praised him for his longevity in the game.
"Not everybody gets to play 500 matches and his longevity is praiseworthy - the way he has kept himself fit and consistent and continued playing well and scored 75 centuries in international cricket. It signifies his discipline, dedication, and determination. He has played 500 matches and there is a lot more cricket left in him. He is a role model for all cricketers across the world,” the former India opener said.
