A wonderful hundred in the Emerging Players tournament in Australia last year, watched by then selection panel chairman Dilip Vengsarkar, earned the Delhi right-hander a place in the Indian squad for the one-day series in the Emerald Islands.

Though he didn’t do a bad job of it at all, handling Muttiah Muralitharan and Ajantha Mendis with aplomb, the talented youngster had to warm the benches as the big boys returned to 50-over duty subsequently.

Kohli had every reason to feel disappointed at not breaking back into the one-day squad for the on-going tri-series in Sri Lanka after another wonderful run in the Emerging Players tournament earlier this year, where his tournament-high 392 runs played a massive part in India ‘A’s title triumph.

Delhi team-mate Gautam Gambhir’s misfortune through a groin injury has, however, opened the doors for Kohli again after the national selectors named the Royal Challengers batsman as the left-handed opener’s replacement on Thursday.

“I am very happy and excited, I am looking forward to the challenge,” said Kohli at the NCA. Scheduled to fly out on Friday to join the team in Colombo, he relished the possibility of opening with Sachin Tendulkar. “I am extremely excited at the possibility of opening the innings with Sachin,” Kohli added.