Virat Kohli Welcomes New Year with Family and Eyes Upcoming ODI Series

As the New Year begins, Indian cricket star Virat Kohli celebrates with his family and prepares for the upcoming ODI series against New Zealand. With remarkable achievements under his belt, including nearing a significant milestone of 28,000 international runs, Kohli's performance is highly anticipated. He recently showcased his form in the Vijay Hazare Trophy and made history in List A cricket. The Indian team is set to gather soon, and all eyes will be on Kohli as they kick off their international year.

By Narendra Chaudhary Jan 1, 2026, 23:34 IST

Celebrating the New Year with Family

Amidst the festive atmosphere of the New Year, Indian cricket sensation Virat Kohli has welcomed 2026 alongside his family. In a heartfelt post shared with his wife, Anushka Sharma, Kohli expressed that he is stepping into the new year with the light of his life. This post quickly gained traction on social media.

Kohli's Return to Cricket

Currently, Kohli is taking a break from cricket to spend quality time with his family, but he is set to make his return to the field soon. Reports indicate that he will participate in the upcoming ODI series against New Zealand, which kicks off on January 11. Prior to this series, he showcased his impressive form by playing for Delhi in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, scoring 131 and 77 runs.

Chasing a Major Milestone

Notably, Kohli is just 25 runs shy of a significant milestone. He has amassed 27,975 runs in international cricket, and upon reaching 28,000 runs, he will become the third batsman to achieve this feat. So far, only Sachin Tendulkar and Kumar Sangakkara have reached this landmark. Interestingly, Tendulkar accomplished this in 644 innings, while Sangakkara did it in 666 innings, whereas Kohli is on the verge of this achievement in just 623 innings.

Setting New Records

Additionally, Kohli recently made history in List A cricket by becoming the fastest player to score 16,000 runs, achieving this in only 330 innings. This record was previously held by Sachin Tendulkar.

Upcoming ODI Series

According to sources from the BCCI, the Indian ODI team will gather in Vadodara by January 8, although it is likely that Kohli will join the team a day earlier. The Indian team will kick off their international year with a three-match ODI series against New Zealand, where all eyes will once again be on Virat Kohli.