New Delhi: India’s talismanic batter Virat Kohli made his 500th international match more memorable as he remained unbeaten on Day 1 of the 1st Test match at the Port of Spain against the high-spirited West Indies side.

Virat Kohli scores fifty

Virat Kohli remained not out on 87 off 161 balls as he and all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja made sure that India doesn’t lose any wicket in the 3rd session. The Rohit Sharma-led team India lost four wicket in 2nd session.

Virat, Jadeja steadies India’s innings

Virat Kohli and Ravindra Jadeja stitched together worth 106 runs partnership with the loss of four wicket till the stumps were called off on Day 1. Virat Kohli started the innings from where he left in the 1st Test match at the Dominica, where Kohli smashed 76 runs and had taken 80 balls to get his first boundary. In the 2nd Test match, Kohli got off the mark with a boundary.

5️⃣0️⃣ on the 5️⃣0️⃣0️⃣th! 🔥

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Virat Kohli, the man! 🙌

📸: BCCI | #WIvIND pic.twitter.com/g9a3HTqKiX

— KolkataKnightRiders (@KKRiders) July 20, 2023

Read More: IND vs WI: ‘Practice session done’: Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli hit net session ahead of 2nd Test match

Virat Kohli achieves this special feet

The 34-year-old batter scored his fifty with a cover-drive shot that reached the boundary. In that process, Virat Kohli achieved the remarkable feet on his 500th international match. The right-hand batter became the first player to score half-century on his 500th match. Virat Kohli just became the 10th player in the world and 4th player in India, who reached their 500th matches.

The elite 500 club include the likes of India’s batting great Sachin Tendulkar, Australia’s former captain Ricky Ponting, Rahul Dravid, Mahela Jayawardena, Kumar Sangakkara, Sanath Jayasuriya, Shahid Afridi, Jacquis Kallis and MS Dhoni.

On the Day 2, Kohli will be aiming to reach 30th Test hundred and his 75th international century. This will be his first century on foreign soil since December 2018, Virat last overseas century came against Australia at Perth, where he scored 123.

What Kohli said on his 500th appearance

“I’m really grateful,” Kohli said in conversation to BCCI.T.V before he commence his milestone innings.

Kohli further added, “I feel very blessed that I’ve had such a long journey playing for India, and such a long Test career because I’ve had to work really hard for it. It makes you feel happy about the hard work you’ve put in, to see the longevity in the game and the results over the years as well. So yeah, I’m very grateful.”