Bengaluru, March 5: Virat Kohli has managed to cement a place in a team which boasts of one of the best batting line-ups in the world. In a side that has players fighting for slots, he has shown versatility and the ability to bat it out in some daunting situations.

In an exclusive interview with bcci.tv, he talks about his journey so far and the backing of skipper MS Dhoni and coach Gary Kirsten.

Congratulations on scoring a century on debut in the World Cup. You must be really proud.

Thank you. It feels great. Firstly it was like a dream for me to be part of the World Cup team. Then I got to play a match. Then in the first match I got a hundred, so it was a dream come true for me, honestly. It was one of the best moments in my life till now.

Within a couple of years you have risen to the position of India’s top ranked batsman in ODIs. Quite a feat considering the strong Indian batting line-up.

Well, I haven’t tried to do anything special - I have just tried to make the most of the opportunities I got initially in my career. Early on, I was doing well in the domestic cricket and I got a chance when someone got injured. So it was really important for me to make those opportunities count and luckily I was able to score runs whenever I got a chance. After that, when I started playing regularly in the team, I started feeling more confident. I have just been looking to go out there and just [stick to] the basics like I have been doing for the last two years in every game. [The idea is to] not try and do something special just because I have been doing well. So just sticking to the basics would be the key.

How are you planning to approach the upcoming game at the Chinnaswamy, practically your second home?

Yeah, [it’s] sort of [my second home] because [I have played here] three years for the IPL and I have been coming to Bangalore since I was fourteen years old for NCA camps and India Under-19 camps. So it has been a special place for me - it is like a second home. Hopefully, if I get going, I would love to get a hundred for India at the Chinnaswamy.

India looked vulnerable in the bowling and fielding departments against England. How quickly, and in what way, can the side change things?

Well, everyone’s been saying ‘they have been looking vulnerable while bowling and fielding’ but if you see, our team also scored 340 runs in the first innings so the wicket has to be that good. It can’t happen that we score 340 and the other team gets out for 220 or 230 - they are an equally good side, England is a good side. They have [good] batsmen. It was a good wicket to bat on and yeah, we batted well initially and the other team also batted well. People think that our bowling is vulnerable but our bowlers tried to hit the right areas. The wicket was so good that though we scored [approximately] 340, they also got that [score].

Fielding, I think, we have been working on regularly. You tend to make some mistakes under pressure, so we will try and reduce those mistakes in the coming games and that could be a big plus for us.

You have captained India in the Under-19 World Cup win. How different are the standards at the senior level in such tournaments?

Well, it’s a totally different ball game. That was Under-19, I was really happy to do that at that point of time. But you can’t compare the feeling of a World Cup of the senior team with the Under-19 at all because you have a billion people backing you [here] and it’s totally crazy. Wherever you go in the country, everyone’s crazy for the World Cup. So many people helping and supporting you - it’s a wonderful experience all together. As a child I used to watch the Indian team play in the World Cup and [marvel at] the excitement surrounding it and everything. And now to be a part of it is absolutely wonderful.

India’s top order is more or less Delhi’s batting line-up. Does it help to have Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir at the top of the order?

Well, the funny thing is I haven’t played with them too much for Delhi - just a match or two. But it is a good feeling to know someone from your Ranji Trophy team is part of the Indian team together with you. But at the end of the day we are all playing for India together. We just play as a unit, play as a family and that is what matters.

What role has MS Dhoni played in your performances over the last couple of years?

Well, he’s played a major role. To back a youngster and let him play his game up the order and to promote him to No. 3 takes a lot of courage. It amounts to taking a chance at the International level, but he gave me that opportunity, showed the trust in me and luckily I was able to perform to his and my own expectations. He’s played a big role along with Gary [Kirsten]. These two have been the ones who have really backed me to go out there and play at No 3.

Tell us something about Gary Kirsten’s methods.

He’s been wonderful from the time he’s been with the team. The amount of hard work he puts in himself [is commendable]. The players work hard but the amount of hard work he puts in [is impressive]. He bowls in the nets the whole day and to be able to do that every day is a big thing and everyone in the team realises that. He’s made a big difference to the team and me personally as well. I have spoken to him a lot about my batting because he’s really experienced, he’s been there, done that. He’s also been someone who has helped me improve as a batsman and helped me become a better cricketer.