Virat Kohli speaks about his journey to playing 100 Tests

Virat Kohli is a phenomenon that has happened to Indian cricket in the post-Sachin Tendulkar era and the dashing batter is now all set to enter an elite club of cricketers who have played 100 or more Tests for their countries. Only 11 from India have made it to the club and the 33-year-old Kohli is waiting to be the 12th.

Kohli, who is also nearing 8,000 runs in the long format in which he has led India most successfully, spoke to bcci.tv over his glorious journey on the ground. He said that it still felt surreal to him that he is about to play 100 Test matches for India but also added that his career is an example of the belief that nothing is impossible in life.

Virat Kohli on playing 100 Tests: ‘It feels surreal’

Speaking about his journey in the interview, Kohli said, “It feels surreal as I said. I mean I never felt that I would play 100 Test matches for India. That was a time when I remember that I told myself that I will do anything possible now to be able to play for India. Nothing could demotivate me or distract me anymore. And ya, I was completely focused on just getting to the top and not just getting to the top, I wanted to play for a long period of time. But I never knew that I would be able to play 100 Test matches.

But things unfolded in a way that you know the journey just kept on going. And ya, if you talk about that moment and this moment today, life is unpredictable in may beautiful ways and I don’t think that we should put any restrictions on life in terms of how many amazing moments you can witness in the future, you have no idea what the future holds. So, it’s best not to panic or not to get demotivated by what might not happen because my career, my life is an example that anything is possible.”

Kohli also conceded that “there will be butterflies” when he takes the field for his 100th Test match, adding that the butterflies will be there till the last game that he plays for India. “Once those butterflies are gone, then you know it’s time,” he signed off.

In 99 Tests so far, Kohli has hit 27 centuries and of the 68 matches that he has captained, he won 40.