It was also the 23-year-old's fifth ODI century and second against Bangladesh here Saturday. Kohli and Virender Sehwag (175) were involved in a 203-run stand for the third wicket that saw India amassing 370 for four in 50 overs.
It was the highest total in an opening game of the World Cup, surpassing England's 334 for four in 60 overs against India at Lord's in the 1975 World Cup.
The following are the other statistical highlights of the match:
* Two batsmen have recorded centuries in the same innings for India for the fourth time - against Kenya at Bristol in 1999, against Sri Lanka at Taunton in 1999 and against Namibia at Pietermaritzburg in 2003.
* India have recorded the highest total in ODIs in Bangladesh, eclipsing their total of 348 for five against Bangladesh at Dhaka Dec 27, 2004.
* Gambhir and Sehwag were associated in a stand of 83 - India's highest for the second wicket against Bangladesh in the World Cup.
* For the first time in the first game of the World Cup competition, two batsmen have posted hundreds in the same innings - Kohli and Sehwag.
* Sehwag got his 22nd Man of the Match award in ODIs - his second in the World Cup, having first received the same against Bermuda at Port of Spain in the 2007 World Cup.
* Sehwag's knock is the highest by any player against Bangladesh in the World Cup, surpassing the 109 off 87 balls by Sanath Jayasuriya at Port of Spain on March 21, 2007.
* Sehwag is the first batsman to register an innings of 150 or more in Bangladesh in ODIs. He has outstripped Sachin Tendulkar's 141 for India against Australia at Dhaka Oct 28, 1998.
* Sehwag (175) has established a record for the highest individual innings in the inaugural game of a World Cup edition. Glenn Turner had made 171 for New Zealand against East Africa on the opening day of the 1975 World Cup.
* Sehwag's 14th ODI hundred is his second in the World Cup. He has scored 114 off 87 balls against Bermuda at Port of Spain Mar 19, 2007.
* Playing in his 445th ODI, Tendulkar has surpassed Sanath Jayasuriya's tally of 444 games, setting a world record for most appearances in ODIs.
* Bangladesh's total, in fact, is their highest in the World Cup, surpassing the 251 for eight against South Africa at Providence Apr 7, 2007.
* Sehwag's 175 off 140 balls is his career-best, outstripping the 146 off 102 balls against Sri Lanka at Rajkot Dec 15, 2009.
* Sehwag's innings is the highest by an Indian batsman against Bangladesh in ODIs, surpassing Sourav Ganguly's 135 not out off 124 balls at Dhaka May 30, 2000.
* Munaf Patel has become the first Indian bowler to claim four wickets in an innings against Bangladesh in the World Cup. His superb figures of 4 for 48 are his second best in ODIs, next only to the 4 for 29 against South Africa at Johannesburg Jan 15, 2011.
* Sehwag has recorded five sixes in an innings for the first time in a World Cup fixture.
* In the course of his majestic 175, Sehwag completed 500 runs against Bangladesh, aggregating 503 in twelve innings at an average of 41.91, including one century and three half-centuries.
* Bangladesh's Abdur Razzak (9-0-74-0) notched up an unwanted record by conceding the most runs in a World Cup game against India.
* Tamim Iqbal (70 off 86 balls) posted his highest innings against India, bettering the 60 off 42 balls at Mirpur Jan 7, 2010.
* Sreesanth's figures (5-0-53-0) are the worst by an Indian bowler in a World Cup game. His economy rate of 10.60 is the worst for India and the fifth worst in World Cup history.
* Sehwag and Tendulkar became the first Indian opening pair to aggregate 500 runs in the World Cup, aggregating 567 in ten innings at an average of 56.70, including one century partnership and five 50-plus.
* Sehwag and Virat Kohli were involved in a stand of 203 for the third wicket, India's highest for any wicket against Bangladesh in ODIs, surpassing the 154 for the second wicket between Tendulkar and Ganguly at Colombo, SSC Jul 21, 2004.