Virat Kohli Receives Heroic Welcome in Vadodara Ahead of ODI Series Against New Zealand

Virat Kohli's Grand Arrival in Vadodara

Vadodara (Gujarat) [India], January 7: Indian cricket superstar Virat Kohli made a spectacular entrance in Vadodara, greeted by an enthusiastic crowd ahead of the first ODI against New Zealand, scheduled for January 11.

As he arrived, fans erupted in chants of 'Kohli, Kohli,' reaching out for handshakes and selfies while he made his way to his vehicle.

The 37-year-old cricketer comes off a successful stint in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, where he scored 131 against Andhra Pradesh and followed it up with 77 against Gujarat, showcasing his excellent form.

Virat's year began on a challenging note, as he struggled during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, but he has since found his rhythm in limited-overs cricket, averaging an impressive 146 in his last six matches, including three centuries and two fifties.

He aims to maintain this momentum against New Zealand, with the first ODI set to take place on Sunday in Vadodara.

In 2025, Kohli emerged as India's top ODI run-scorer, amassing 651 runs in 13 innings at an average of 65.10, featuring three centuries and four fifties, with a highest score of 135 and a strike rate exceeding 96.

During the ICC Champions Trophy last year, he made history by becoming the first player to score over 1,000 runs in ICC event knockouts, totaling 1,024 runs in 22 matches at an average of 51.20, including a century and nine fifties.

He also holds the record for the most fifty-plus scores in ICC knockouts, contributing significantly to his team's success in winning the ICC CT title for the second time.

Last year marked a significant achievement for Kohli as he finally secured the IPL trophy with Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), finishing as their third-highest run-scorer with 657 runs in 15 matches.

Throughout the IPL, he set multiple records, including being the first player to reach 9,000 runs and 300 sixes with a single franchise, and achieving over 500 runs in eight different seasons.

With a Cricket World Cup, two Champions Trophy titles, a T20 World Cup, and the IPL trophy under his belt, Kohli has established himself as a dominant force in limited-overs cricket, all while remaining loyal to the RCB franchise that believed in him since his U19 World Cup captaincy in 2008.

He also became the third player to surpass 14,000 ODI runs, currently holding the second-highest run tally in ODI history with 14,557 runs in 308 matches, averaging 58.46, with 53 centuries and 76 fifties.

Despite focusing on one format, Kohli's consistency has propelled him past Australian legend Ricky Ponting, making him the third-highest run-scorer in international cricket with 27,975 runs in 556 matches.

After scoring his first century of the South Africa series, Kohli surpassed Sachin Tendulkar's record for the most ODI centuries, now holding 52, a remarkable feat in international cricket.

Last year, he also eclipsed Tendulkar's total of 18,436 runs in limited-overs cricket, becoming the leading run-scorer with a combined total of 18,745 runs across ODIs and T20Is.