'Lot Of Credit To Virat Kohli For What India Has Achieved In Test Cricket': Rohit Sharma Ahead Of 1st Test

"It has been one hell of a ride for him (Virat Kohli) and it will continue to be in the coming years," said Rohit during a virtual press conference.

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Indian captain Rohit Sharma spoke about Virat Kohli's amazing journey as a Test cricketer for India, just a day ahead of Kohli's 100th Test match. He credited Virat by calling him a "special" player who helped India's Test cricket reach new heights.

India won away Test series under Virat's captaincy. Observers of the game often credit Virat for injecting the much-needed confidence in the team. 

"It has been one hell of a ride for him (Virat Kohli) and it will continue to be in the coming years," said Rohit during a virtual press conference.

Rohit further says that a lot of credit for what the Indian team has achieved in Test cricket in recent years goes to Kohli. 

"We definitely want to make it special for him, let's hope we have good five days of cricket. As a team, the series we won in Australia in 2018, was a very good series for our side and Virat was captain then. As an individual, the best memory as a batter, his Test hundred in South Africa in 2013, the pitch was challenging and there was a lot of bounce," he added.

Speaking about his favourite performance of Virat Kohli, Sharma said, "Lot of guys were playing in South Africa for the first time, to face the likes of Morkel, Steyn, it was never going to be easy but the way Virat batted in the first innings and second, it was one of the best knocks of his that I clearly remember. This beats his knock in Perth."

As the BCCI has allowed spectators at 50 percent of stadium capacity for the landmark game, fans are expected to make some noise as they would also be in anticipation for Virat Kohli's 71st international hundred. Kohli last scored a century in 2019 against West Indies. 

"As a Test team, we at the moment stand in a very good position, credit goes to Virat for getting us going in this format. What he did with the Test team was brilliant to see, I have to just take it forward from where he left," said Rohit.