India, April 9 -- Virat Kohli is among the few active cricketers who have played every IPL season. Not to forget, he was part of that inaugural game at the iconic Eden Gardens between Royal Challengers Bangalore (now Royal Challengers Bengaluru) and Kolkata Knight Riders. He remembers the famous Brendon McCullum knock, the wild Kolkata atmosphere and the looming uncertainty yet excitement among the cricketers about the new tournament. But on Wednesday, he opened up on a never-before-heard story from the first-ever IPL game.

Fresh from the U-19 World Cup win and with the burden of expectation on his young shoulders, an 18-year-old Kohli sought to conquer IPL as he walked out to bat at the Eden Gardens in chase of a colossal 223. But the p...