'His numbers and stats speak for themselves' - India head coach Rahul Dravid praises Virat Kohli ahead of his 500th International match

History is set to be made as India's cricketing maestro, Virat Kohli, gears up to step onto the field for his 500th international match against the West Indies in the second Test. This monumental achievement marks yet another milestone in the legendary career of this modern-day great.

Meanwhile, India head coach Rahul Dravid came up with a lot of praise for Kohli. Dravid said that Kohli's numbers and stats speak for themselves, and his dedication is something to be learned.

"Virat is a real inspiration to so many players, and in the team as well, many players look up to him.  Obviously, his numbers and stats speak for themselves; it's all in the books. The effort and work that he puts in behind the scenes when no one is watching is incredible", said Rahul Dravid in a press conference.

"I think that has carried him to play 500 games; he is very fit and still going very strong. That's not easy; he has made a lot of sacrifices and put in a lot of hard work. It's nice to see Virat's journey. He has come a long way. Over the last 18 months, I've gotten to know him personally, and I have learned a lot from him", Dravid further added.

"It's a great occasion," said Rahul Dravid on his 100th Test against the West Indies

Notably, Virat Kohli's 500th international match will be India's 100th Test match against the West Indies. Speaking about it, Rahul Dravid said that it's a great occasion. "It's a great occasion to play the 100th Test match between the West Indies and India. Two great cricketing nations have been successful. Both countries have great passions for cricket. I know that growing up, I admired West Indies players. Some great players have played brilliant cricket over these 100 tests. It's a special occasion to be a part of", said Dravid.

Dravid further spoke about the downfall of West Indies cricket and its effects. He said, "The pressure and the challenge the current West Indies team face is that they are always compared to the great West Indies team in the 80s and 90s. The team led by Clive Lloyd and Viv Richard, that West Indian team, was incredible, and the current generation of West Indies is always compared to it."