'Played it like probably it’s his fifth match' - Dinesh Karthik heaps praise on Virat Kohli for gritty knock in his landmark 500th match

Star India batter Virat Kohli took India to safety on Day 1 of the second Test against West Indies at Queen's Park Oval, Port of Spain, Trinidad. Kohli, playing his 500^th international game, walked in to bat with India on 153/2 which quickly turned to 182/4 with Shubman Gill (10) and Ajinkya Rahane (8) walking back to the pavilion cheaply.

Following that, Kohli (87*) and Ravindra Jadeja (36*) took India to safe shores with their unbeaten 106-run as they finished the day on 288/4 at stumps on Day 1. Commenting on Kohli’s gritty knock, India wicketkeeper batter Dinesh Karthik praised him for his hunger for runs even while playing his 500^th game.

“Mr Virat Kohli, King Kohli as we lovingly call him. And we all can say the lovely shots that he played; the cover drive, the pull. The pull was really good for me, with what happened in previous years. Here’s the man who is playing his 500th match but played it like probably it’s his fifth match. The hunger on a pitch that probably didn’t aid stroke-making, he fought through it,” Karthik told Cricbuzz.

Karthik was further impressed with how Kohli kept his ego aside and was willing to grind hard for his team.

“Even he could play a million shots, just making sure that he is mentally there and making it count for Team India. He just goes out there, grinds it out, hits a 50 off 97 balls, ends up being not out at the end of the day’s play and forges a lovely partnership with Ravindra Jadeja. That’s the man for you,” he added.

Virat Kohli becomes the fifth-highest run scorer in international cricket

Notably, during his innings, Virat Kohli also became the fifth-highest run-getter in international cricket as he surpassed legendary South Africa cricketer, Jacques Kallis, who scored 25,534 runs in his career. Kohli currently has 25,548 runs to his name from 500 matches at an average of 53.67 with 75 centuries and 131 fifties to his name. 

Meanwhile, earlier in the day, Rohit Sharma (80) and Yashasvi Jaiswal (57) once again got their team off to a great start in the series, adding 139 runs for the first wicket. Jaiswal batted at a strike rate of 77.03 as he scored 57 (74) smashing nine fours and a six in his innings. On Day 2, India will hope that Kohli and Jadeja to continue their stand and score over 400 in the first innings.