International career

2008–2009: Debut and maiden stint

In August 2008, Kohli was selected for inclusion in the ODl squad for the tour of Sri Lanka and
the Champions Trophy in Pakistan. Prior to the Sri Lankan tour, Kohli had limited experience,
with only eight List A matches under his belt.[44] So, his selection was considered a "surprise call-
up".[45] During the Sri Lankan tour, as both first-choice openers Sachin Tendulkar and Virender
Sehwag, were unable to play due to injury, Kohli was required to fill the role of makeshift opener
throughout the series.[46] On 18 August 2008, Kohli made his international debut at the age of 19
in the first ODI of the tour, where he was dismissed for 12 runs, caught dead in front by an
incutter from Nuwan Kulasekara.[47] However, in the fourth match of the series, Kohli achieved his
inaugural half century in the ODl format, with a total of fifty-four runs scored. [48]
Following the postponement of the Champions Trophy to 2009, Kohli was picked as a
replacement for the injured Shikhar Dhawan in the India A squad for the unofficial Tests
against Australia A in September 2008.[49] Despite limited opportunities, he managed to make an
impact in the single innings that he participated in, scoring 49 runs.[50] In October 2008, Kohli
participated in a four-day tour match against Australia as part of the Indian Board President's XI
team. The match featured a formidable Australian bowling line-up that consisted of Brett
Lee, Stuart Clark, Mitchell Johnson, Peter Siddle and Jason Krejza. Despite this, Kohli displayed
his batting prowess by scoring 105 runs in the first innings and an unbeaten 16 runs in the
second innings, demonstrating his ability to perform against high-level international competition.
[51]

In November 2008, Kohli was selected for inclusion in the squad for the home ODI series
against England, due to the presence of established and experienced players such as Tendulkar
and Sehwag, he was not given an opportunity to play in any of the matches. [52] In December
2008, Kohli was awarded a Grade D contract by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI)
as part of the annual contract list for the Indian national team which entitled him to receive ₹1.5
million (equivalent to ₹3.6 million or US$44,000 in 2020), A certain level of remuneration for
representing the national team in various matches and events. [53] Despite being awarded a
contract, in January, Kohli was dropped for the five-match ODl series against Sri Lanka in Sri
Lanka.[54]