Indian cricket captain Virat Kohli is on the brink of another historic achievement as he approaches his 500th international match. Once he reaches this significant milestone, Kohli will become the 10th player overall and the fourth Indian cricketer to achieve this remarkable feat.
At the top of this esteemed list stands the legendary Sachin Tendulkar, who has played an astounding 664 matches, closely followed by Mahela Jayawardene with 652 matches. The other two Indian cricketers on this illustrious list are MS Dhoni, with 538 matches, and Rahul Dravid, with 509 matches.
Kohli’s 500th match will coincide with the second Test against West Indies, scheduled to take place at the Queen’s Park Oval on July 20th. This match holds immense significance for Kohli as he aims to make his performance truly memorable on this special occasion.
In the first Test against West Indies, Team India displayed their dominance by defeating the hosts by an innings and 141 runs. The victory was fueled by an exceptional performance from Ravichandran Ashwin, who claimed 12 wickets, and the emerging talent of Yashasvi Jaiswal, who scored an impressive 171 runs.
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The triumph in the opening Test holds great importance for India in the new World Test Championship cycle, as it has earned them valuable points. Captain Rohit Sharma exhibited confidence in the spin bowling skills of Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja, who led the Indian bowling attack on a spin-friendly pitch. Both off-spinners delivered as expected, accounting for 17 of the 20 West Indies wickets.
During the first innings, the 21-year-old Jaiswal formed a formidable partnership of 229 runs with Captain Sharma, with both batsmen scoring centuries. Jaiswal’s remarkable innings of 171 was supported by the experienced Virat Kohli, who contributed an excellent knock of 76 runs.
Ashwin, currently the top-ranked Test bowler, once again showcased his brilliance by securing his 34th five-wicket haul, placing him among the top five bowlers with the most five-wicket hauls in Test history.
Looking ahead to the second Test in Port of Spain, India will be determined to maintain their momentum, while the hosts will be eager to produce an improved performance and level the series. Notably, this will also be the 100th Test match between two countries.