Brian Lara turns down a phone call to congratulate Virat Kohli personally for his upcoming historic 500th match; Watch

Dynamic Indian cricketer Virat Kohli is on the verge of achieving another milestone in his illustrious career as he prepares to play his 500th match for India against the West Indies. On this momentous occasion, Kohli will join the esteemed company of Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid and MS Dhoni as the only Indian cricketers to reach the milestone. Kohli, who is gearing up for the second Test at the Queen’s Park Oval in Trinidad, aims to make the feat even more special.

Despite getting out for 76 in the first Test in Dominica, Kohli has a chance to regain his Test batting average of 50 if he can score at least 345 runs in both innings. However, despite the statistical result, Kohli’s day became even more memorable when he was feted by the great Brian Lara two days before the match.

The encounter between the modern-day great Kohli and the Prince of Trinidad, Lara, was one to watch. As Kohli was walking back to the changing room, Lara, who was engrossed in a phone conversation, spotted him and warmly extended his hand for a handshake. The two icons hugged each other and engaged in a brief conversation, with Lara managing to multitask by keeping her phone close to her ear. After some encouraging thumbs-up gestures, Kohli went upstairs while Lara returned to his devices.

This heartwarming gesture from Lara didn’t go unnoticed as it quickly caught the attention of the internet. The clash between these cricketing legends added to the significance of Kohli’s 500th match. The West Indies tour holds a special significance for the Indian skipper and his interactions with Lara and the great Garfield Sobers last week have brought back precious memories of the series.

When you’re in Trinidad, you can’t miss meeting the great Brian Lara :smiley: :clap:#TeamIndia , #WIvIND , @bryanlara pic.twitter.com/t8L8lV6Cso

– BCCI (@BCCI) 19 July 2023

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It seems fitting that Kohli met Lara ahead of their historic match, considering that he has surpassed a number of batting milestones previously set by the West Indies great. Kohli became the second highest run-scorer in Tests against Australia this year, surpassing Lara. Also, showcasing his batting prowess, he became the leading non-Australian run-scorer at the Adelaide Oval last year. Notably, in 2019, Kohli surpassed both Lara and Tendulkar as he became the fastest batsman to reach 20,000 international runs.

As Virat Kohli takes the field for his 500th match, meeting Brian Lara is a reminder of the inter-generational ties and the impact these cricket legends have had on the game. It is a testimony to Kohli’s remarkable journey and his ability to carve his name among the greats.

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