'My first game and I was nervous' - Virat Kohli provides insight into debut World Cup game in 2011

Virat Kohli was in his third year in the international and he was bestowed with an opportunity to represent the Indian team in World Cup 2011. Kohli who made his debut in 2008 for India, had already made an impact with the bat and became the trusted number three for team India. In his debut World Cup game against Bangladesh in Dhaka, he notched up a scintillating ton to announce himself on the global stage.

However, for a person who looks animated and is termed aggressive, the debut game did give butterflies in the stomach. Kohli revealed that he was nervous before walking into the game against Bangladesh. He also added that he understood the game's importance as he rubbed shoulders with some of India’s greats in the dressing room.

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"It was against Bangladesh in Dhaka, my first game and I was nervous. Yes, I will not lie. There is a different sense of excitement in the air when you come for a World Cup and I could obviously sense that. I was the youngest member of that team and I was getting to play with all these greats of Indian cricket in a World Cup game,” Kohli said in an interview with Star Sports.

Your body is preparing you to enter a situation where you’re alert: Kohli

Kohli had an outing to remember as he scored his maiden World Cup ton in his debut game. He smashed eight boundaries and two maximums with 100 runs to his name in just 83 balls. He also partnered with Virender Sehwag in a crucial stand of 203 runs for the second wicket. The composure of the cricketer was lauded by many and the star Indian batter credits it for the nervousness he experienced before the game.

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"For me it was definitely a moment where I was a bit nervous heading into the game and definitely the night before I was quite nervous but that is a good sign as well because your body is preparing you to enter a situation where you’re alert, you’re not taking things for granted. I think that nervousness helped me to be aware, be alert and be absolutely precise in the execution of my plans," he added.