Watch: Virat Kohli, one of the greatest ODI cricketers of all time, makes his debut in the format by opening the batting against Sri Lanka in Dambulla.
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The right-hander made his 50-over debut back in August 2008, five months after leading India to their U19 Cricket World Cup triumph in Malaysia. He had also played for Royal Challengers Bangalore in the inaugural season of the IPL that year, scoring 165 runs in 13 games.
He made his international debut in the ODI leg of India’s 2008 tour of Sri Lanka. The visitors were scheduled to play five ODIs in Sri Lanka, with the first game scheduled in Dambulla. Kohli got his India cap in the game and was slotted in to open alongside Gautam Gambhir.
The right-hander could score only 12 runs in 22 balls, however, as India were bundled out for 146. They lost the match by eight wickets. It was an important game for India though, as their chase master and future captain took field for them for the first time then.
