Virat Kohli 100th Test: Virat Kohli will play his 100th Test on Friday in Mohali, a milestone that has only been achieved by just 11 players before him. Ahead of the milestone match against Sri Lanka, the former Indian captain conceded that he never thought of playing 100 Tests. Instead, his focus was on batting longer. Follow IND vs SL 1st Test Live Updates on InsideSport.IN.
Ahead of his 100th Test match, Virat Kohli did not attend the press conference. But BCCI instead decided to post an interview of him. Kohli said, playing 100th Tets is a special moment for him and his family.
Virat Kohli 100th Test: Virat Kohli concedes, ‘Never thought of playing 100 Tests, always focused on batting longer’
Virat Kohli 100th Test: Virat Kohli concedes, ‘Never thought of playing 100 Tests, always focused on batting longer’
“It’s been a long journey. I have played a lot cricket over the course of these 100 Tests but never thought of playing 100 matches. I am just grateful that I have been able to play 100 Tests. I have worked really hard on my fitness. It’s a big moment for me and my family. For my coach, who is also very happy and proud of this. It’s a very special moment for me,” Virat Kohli said in a video posted by the BCCI.
‘I never thought i’ll play 100 Test matches. It has been a long journey. Grateful that i’ve been able to make it to 100’ – @imVkohli on his landmark Test.
Full interview coming up on https://t.co/Z3MPyesSeZ. Stay tuned! #VK100 pic.twitter.com/SFehIolPwb
— BCCI (@BCCI) March 3, 2022
Virat Kohli 100th Test: Virat Kohli concedes, ‘Never thought of playing 100 Tests, always focused on batting longer’
Virat Kohli 100th Test: Indian players in 100-Test club
No | Player | Country | Career | Tests |
1 | Sachin Tendulkar | India | 1989-2013 | 200 |
2 | Rahul Dravid | India | 1996-2012 | 164 |
3 | VVS Laxman | India | 1996-2012 | 134 |
4 | Anil Kumble | India | 1990-2008 | 132 |
5 | Kapil Dev | India | 1978-1994 | 131 |
6 | Sunil Gavaskar | India | 1971-1987 | 125 |
7 | Dilip Vengsarkar | India | 1976-1992 | 116 |
8 | Sachin Ganguly | India | 1996-2008 | 113 |
9 | Ishant Sharma* | India | 2007- | 105 |
10 | Virender Sehwag | India | 2001-2013 | 104 |
11 | Harbhajan Singh | India | 1998-2015 | 103 |
Virat Kohli 100th Test: Virat Kohli concedes, ‘Never thought of playing 100 Tests, always focused on batting longer’
Virat Kohli said his focus always remained on playing as long as possible and bat for long.
“The idea was always to score HUGE runs. I got about 7-8 double hundreds in junior cricket before making it to the First Class level. So, the idea was to bat long as long as I could and win the match for my team, to take the first-innings lead or score two points,” Virat Kohli said.
Kohli was slated to play his 100th Test during the South Africa series earlier this year, but as fate has it, he will reach the milestone in India itself with a 50 per cent crowd in attendance at the PCA Stadium, Mohali.
Virat Kohli 100th Test: Virat Kohli concedes, ‘Never thought of playing 100 Tests, always focused on batting longer’