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Sachin Tendulkar recalls when Team India first talked about Virat Kohli as 'one to watch out for'

Sachin Tendulkar has congratulated Virat Kohli ahead of his 100th Test appearance, saying that he made an immense contribution to Indian cricket by motivating the next generation. "Congratulations on your 100th Test appearance. What a terrific achievement! It has been fantastic watching you over the years. Numbers will always have their own story, but your real strength is that you have been able to motivate the next generation and this is your immense contribution to the Indian cricket," said Tendulkar in a video posted by BCCI on Twitter. Tendulkar recalled that the first time the senior Indian cricket team had heard of Kohli was in 2008 in Australia.

India Predicted XI For 1st Test vs Sri Lanka: Focus On Virat Kohli Ahead Of 100th Test

All eyes will be on Virat Kohli on the occasion of his 100th Test match when India take on Sri Lanka in the first of a two-match Test series, at the Punjab Cricket Association Stadium in Mohali starting Friday. Kohli, who had been given rest in the recently-concluded T20I series, will become the 12th Indian cricketer to play 100 Test matches -- the others being Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, Sunil Gavaskar, Virender Sehwag, VVS Laxman, Anil Kumble, Kapil Dev, Sourav Ganguly, Dilip Vengsarkar, Ishant Sharma and Harbhajan Singh. On the other hand, Shreyas Iyer is likely to be a part of the team after his three consecutive fifties in the 3-0 T20I series clean sweep against Sri Lanka. Here is how we think India will line up against Sri Lanka in the opening Test in Mohali:

India vs Sri Lanka, 1st Test Preview: Rohit Sharma-Led Team India Ready To Dish Out Stellar Show In Virat Kohli's 100th Test

Hailed by many as the 'Last of the Mohicans' in cricket's purest format, Virat Kohli will be focussed on making his 100th appearance memorable while "white-ball legend" Rohit Sharma plots the demolition of an out-of-depth Sri Lanka as India's 35th Test captain in the series-opener starting in Mohali on Friday. If one looks back at Indian team's journey since its inception in international cricket back in 1932, it has been about stars, superstars, and megastars, who become the reason for the footfall at turnstiles of various stadiums across the country. It was the case when Sunil Gavaskar scored his 10,000th run, Sachin Tendulkar bade the most emotional farewell that cricket has ever seen and now the spotlight will be firmly on Kohli, whose domineering presence has turned an international match into a footnote.

India vs Sri Lanka: Shubman Gill readies for first Test on home ground

Sri Lanka at Mohali, there's another cricketer who will be hungry to take the ground on Friday. Local boy Shubman Gill, one of the architects of the historic win against Australia at the Gabba, is most likely to play his first Test in front of his home crowd. Gill's memorable 91 runs in the chase of the famous Brisbane Test, helped India breach the 'Gabba' fortress and retain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in 2021. That innings was like a trailer of a blockbuster career in the making. A product of India's robust domestic set-up, Shubman gave glimpses of his batting prowess by tackling the fiery trio of Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc with ease. The Punjab youngster's knock also sent out a message that the next generation of Indian cricket is ready to take forward the legacy of the stalwarts of the past decades.

Sachin Tendulkar Recalls Time When He First Heard Of Virat Kohli

Former India captain and batting legend Sachin Tendulkar shared a message for Virat Kohli ahead of his 100th Test match. Tendulkar's message was part of a tribute video posted by BCCI on social media. The video also had messages from other members of the 100-Test club, including Team India head coach Rahul Dravid, BCCI president Sourav Ganguly and former India opener Virender Sehwag. In his message for Kohli, Sachin spoke about the time when he had first heard Virat Kohli's name.

Indian cricketing legends extend wishes for Virat Kohli ahead of his 100th Test match

Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, Sourav Ganguly and Virender Sehwag shared their best wishes to Virat Kohli as the former Indian captain will play his 100th Test match in Mohali on Friday. Kohli will become the 12th Indian cricketer to play 100 Tests. He will become Test centurion against Sri Lanka at the PCA IS Bindra Stadium in Mohali starting March 4. "I remember the first time I heard about you was when we were in Australia in 2007. You guys were playing the U-19 World Cup in Malaysia and that's when there were certain players in the team who were discussing about you. This is one player to watch out for, achhi batting kar leta hai (he can do good batting)," Tendulkar said in a video shared by BCCI.

Watch: BCCI's Tribute Video For Virat Kohli Includes Messages From Sachin Tendulkar & Other Legends

Former Indian cricketers including the likes of Sachin Tendulkar, Virender Sehwag, the Board of Control for Cricket in India president Sourav Ganguly and head coach of the Indian cricket team Rahul Dravid paid their tribute and wished luck to Virat Kohli, welcoming him to the "100-Test club." Kohli has so far played 99 Tests for India and will be eager to get out on the field in Indian whites for the 100th time on Friday in Mohali where India will take on Sri Lanka in the first Test.

Sunil Gavaskar Hopes Virat Kohli Will Celebrate 100th Test With Special Batting Feat

Virat Kohli will play his 100th Test match when India host Sri Lanka in the first of a two-match Test series starting Friday in Mohali. The former India captain will become only the 12th Indian to play 100 Test matches. Kohli, who is currently regarded as one of the world's best batters, has an opportunity to make the occasion even more special as he is only 38 runs away from completing 8000 runs in the longest format of the game. He is set to become only the sixth Indian joining an elite list comprising greats like Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, Sunil Gavaskar, Virender Sehwag and VVS Laxman.

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Sachin Tendulkar Sport News

Sachin Tendulkar recalls when Team India first talked about Virat Kohli as 'one to watch out for'

India Predicted XI For 1st Test vs Sri Lanka: Focus On Virat Kohli Ahead Of 100th Test

India vs Sri Lanka, 1st Test Preview: Rohit Sharma-Led Team India Ready To Dish Out Stellar Show In Virat Kohli's 100th Test

India vs Sri Lanka: Shubman Gill readies for first Test on home ground

Sachin Tendulkar Recalls Time When He First Heard Of Virat Kohli

Indian cricketing legends extend wishes for Virat Kohli ahead of his 100th Test match

Watch: BCCI's Tribute Video For Virat Kohli Includes Messages From Sachin Tendulkar & Other Legends

Sunil Gavaskar Hopes Virat Kohli Will Celebrate 100th Test With Special Batting Feat