With Virat Kohli announcing his retirement from Test cricket on May 12, 2025, tributes and revelations are pouring in. Among them, a former national selector, Sanjay Jagdale, has come forward with a significant behind-the-scenes story from 2008 — one that sheds light on how Virat Kohli was first selected for Team India’s ODI squad, and the key figure behind it.
🏏 The Man Behind Virat’s Debut: Dilip Vengsarkar
According to Sanjay Jagdale, Dilip Vengsarkar, who was then the chief selector, played the decisive role in bringing Virat Kohli into India’s ODI squad.
Jagdale revealed:
“Kohli was picked on Vengsarkar’s insistence. I hadn’t seen him play at that time, but Vengsarkar was extremely impressed by his performances in the Emerging Players Tournament in Australia.”
📅 Virat's Debut Match
- Date: August 18, 2008
- Opponent: Sri Lanka
- Format: One Day International
- Venue: Dambulla, Sri Lanka
This match marked the start of Kohli’s international career, which went on to become one of the most successful in cricket history.
🔍 The Early Doubts
Jagdale also revealed that some people opposed Kohli’s selection, questioning why such a young player — barely 19 years old — was being sent on a tough international tour.
“People asked how we could send an untested youngster to Sri Lanka. But Vengsarkar was confident. Today, no one remembers those critics.”
💬 Why Vengsarkar Believed in Kohli
- Kohli had scored a century in the Emerging Players Tournament in Australia.
- Vengsarkar reportedly saw something special in Kohli’s technique, temperament, and aggression.
- His leadership in India’s U-19 World Cup win earlier that year also boosted his case.
🏆 Jagdale on Kohli’s Legacy
Sanjay Jagdale called Virat one of India’s greatest ever across formats, second only to Sachin Tendulkar in terms of influence.
He added:
“Kohli’s retirement from Tests is his personal decision and must be respected. But filling his void in red-ball cricket won’t be easy.”
📊 Virat Kohli’s Test Record
- Matches: 123
- Innings: 210
- Runs: 9,230
- Average: 46.85
- Centuries: 30
- Fifties: 31
📝 In Summary
- Dilip Vengsarkar, then chief selector, pushed for Kohli’s selection in 2008.
- Virat debuted in ODI cricket on August 18, 2008, vs Sri Lanka.
- The selection faced early criticism, but Kohli proved his worth quickly.
- Sanjay Jagdale, a former selector, believes Kohli’s red-ball legacy is irreplaceable.
Kohli’s journey from a U-19 World Cup-winning captain to India’s all-format giant might have never started in 2008 — if not for one selector’s vision and another’s faith.
