Virat Kohli and Kuldeep Yadav Seek Blessings at Ujjain's Mahakaleshwar Temple Ahead of Crucial ODI

Virat Kohli and Kuldeep Yadav visited the Shree Mahakaleshwar Temple in Ujjain to seek blessings before the decisive ODI against New Zealand. The cricketers participated in the Bhasma Aarti and were honored by the temple committee. Kohli, who recently regained the top spot in the ICC ODI rankings, aims to lead India to victory after a mixed performance in the series. With Kohli becoming India's highest run-scorer against New Zealand in ODIs, the team looks to bounce back in the final match. Read on to learn more about their spiritual journey and the upcoming clash.

By Narendra Chaudhary Jan 17, 2026, 12:16 IST

A Spiritual Visit Before the Big Match

Ujjain: On Saturday, former Indian cricket captain Virat Kohli, along with spinner Kuldeep Yadav and fielding coach T Dilip, visited the revered Shree Mahakaleshwar Temple in Ujjain to seek blessings from Lord Shiva. They participated in the Bhasma Aarti during their visit.

The duo was honored by the temple management committee for their presence. Kuldeep expressed his gratitude, stating, “It was a wonderful experience for the entire team. Having darshan of Lord Mahakaal always brings joy. I hope God continues to bless everyone and that life goes smoothly for all. Today was truly special.”

Earlier on Friday, head coach Gautam Gambhir and wicketkeeper KL Rahul also paid their respects at one of the twelve Jyotirlingas dedicated to Lord Shiva. They, along with batting coach Sitanshu Kotak, attended the early morning Bhasma Aarti at 4:00 AM.

Team India is gearing up for the third and final ODI against New Zealand at Holkar Cricket Stadium on Sunday. The series is currently tied after New Zealand leveled it by defeating India in the second ODI at Rajkot.

India had started strong with a thrilling four-wicket victory in the first ODI at Vadodara but faced a setback in the second match, losing by seven wickets to Michael Bracewell’s New Zealand.

This week, Virat Kohli reclaimed the top position in the ICC ODI batting rankings, surpassing former captain Rohit Sharma. However, his first match back as the number one saw him score a modest 23 runs off 29 balls. Despite this, Kohli made history by becoming India’s highest run-scorer against New Zealand in ODIs.

In 35 ODIs against New Zealand, Kohli has scored 1,773 runs at an impressive average of 55.4, including six centuries and ten half-centuries, with a top score of 154. He surpassed Sachin Tendulkar, who had 1,750 runs in 42 matches at an average of 46.05, with five centuries and eight fifties.