Of longevity and intensity

Kohli's unending passion as a player, as a person, makes his passage to 500 India matches fascinating

- Aditya Chaturvedi

As an athlete, to be able to represent your country for 15 years is no mean feat. Not only is it a testament to your skills, it also reflects your strength in character. Virat Kohli has undoubtedly been one of the finest role models in his generation and now, at 34, he’s achieved a milestone that only a handful have before him.

With India taking on West Indies in the second Test at Port of Spain, Kohli becomes just the 10th cricketer in history, and fourth from India after Sachin Tendulkar (664), Rahul Dravid (504) and Mahendra Singh Dhoni (535), to compete in 500 international games. It’s a monumental accomplishment, more so when one factors in the sort of personality Kohli is.

He's often spoken about leaving it all out there and is as intense a player as they come, putting his body on the line each time he shows up. He’s never been just another player on the field, never been someone you wouldn’t notice. In fact, his aggression, his animated manners during battle, have always been unique for a cricketer of his stature.

Kohli's genius with the bat ensured the spotlight was always on him, but it’s his inextinguishable passion as a player, as a person, that makes his journey to 500 matches all the more fascinating.