File photo of Virat Kohli | Photo Credit: AP

Known vastly for his unmatched batting abilities, array of records with the willow and his on-field aggression, Indian skipper Virat Kohli is also a medium-pacer who has eight international wickets to his name. And had he been India's part-time bowler, he would have ended with a few more wickets to his name, probably even hold a record in some ODI double list had his teammates believed in his abilities with the ball just like he does.

Although in a lighter vein, the Indian captain explained the main reason why he hasn't rolled his arms since December 2017.

"It was the during the ODI series in Sri Lanka (in 2017) where we had almost won everything, I asked MS (Dhoni) if I could bowl. Just when I was getting ready to roll my arm over, Bumrah (Jasprit) shouted from the boundary and said 'no joking around, it is an international game'.

WATCH: Virat Kohli bowls in nets, Twitterati terms him India’s ‘6th bowling option’ at World Cup 2019

"No one in the team believes in my bowling but I do. After that I had back issues and then never bowled (in the middle)," said the Indian captain in an interview to host broadcaster of ICC World Cup 2019.

Despite the injury, he still bowls at the nets whenever he gets time. Recently he was seen rolling his arms and Twitterati claimed that he can be India's sixth bowling option at the showpiece event. Kohli has taken four wickets in ODIs and as many in T20Is. And in Tests, he has gone wicketless in 163 deliveries.

SEE PIC: Virat Kohli and Co. sweat at gym ahead of India's World Cup opening fixture vs South Africa

The 30-year-old also revealed that he used to emulate his arch-rival James Anderson's bowling action during his Delhi days. In fact, he had told the English pacer about the same on meeting him.

"I used to follow James Anderson's action when I was at the academy (in Delhi). Later, when I got to play alongside him, I told him about that story. We both had a good laugh over it," Kohli quipped.

Earlier in the day, Kohli was in the news when BCCI source informed ANI that the Indian skipper has been declared fit for their World Cup opener. India are the only side in the tournament who are yet to open their campaign. They will play their first match against South Africa on June 5 at the Rose Bowl Stadium in Southampton.