[Watch] Virat Kohli's first international innings of 12 against Sri Lanka in Dambulla in August 2008
On this day, August 18, in 2008, Virat Kohli made his international debut in an ODI against Sri Lanka in Dambulla. Having led India to glory in the 2008 U-19 World Cup in Kuala Lumpur, a young Kohli was fast-tracked into international cricket. While he was dismissed for 12 off 22 balls in his first international knock, the batter has gone on to establish himself as one of the best in the business.
If we look at the 35-year-old's record in international cricket, he has scored 8848 runs in 113 Tests at an average of 49.15, with 29 hundreds. In ODIs, he has amassed 13906 runs in 295 matches at an average of 58.18, with 50 tons. Kohli also has 4188 runs from 125 T20Is at a strike rate of 137.04, with a best of 122*.
Looking back at his maiden ODI knock on the 16th anniversary of his international debut, the right-handed batter opened the innings in Dambulla in the first ODI of the five-match series against Sri Lanka. He occupied the crease for 33 minutes in what was a relatively nervous innings against a strong bowling line-up comprising Chaminda Vaas, Muttiah Muralitharan, Ajantha Mendis, and Sanath Jayasuriya.
Batting first, India lost Gautam Gambhir (0) to the second ball of the game as he was comprehensively bowled by a good length delivery that angled in from Vaas. Kohli faced his first ball in international cricket in the third over and got off the mark by opening the face and playing one that seamed across from Vaas to third man.
Watch video of Virat Kohli's first international knock
The debutant's first boundary came in the seventh over of India's innings as he flicked a full ball from seasoned left-arm seamer Vaas through square leg. The youngster's stay at the crease, however, did not last too long.
Kohli was trapped lbw by Nuwan Kulasekara with a length ball just outside off that nipped back. The debutant missed the ball and was hit on the back pad in front of the stumps.
India crashed to an 8-wicket defeat in Virat Kohli's first international match
Kohli's first match in international cricket was not a memorable one for the Indian team either. After winning the toss and batting first, the Men in Blue were bundled out for 146 in 46 overs. Yuvraj Singh (23 off 30) was the only Team India batter to cross the 20-run mark in the innings. For Sri Lanka, Mendis claimed 3-21, Muralitharan 3-37 and Kulasekara 2-23.
In a chase of 147, Sri Lanka romped home to victory by eight wickets in 34.5 overs. Jayasuriya was dismissed for 10 and Kumar Sangakkara 19. Skipper Mahela Jayawardene top-scored with 61* off 82 balls, while Chamara Kapugedera remained unbeaten on 45 off 72.