Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, two of India’s greatest ODI icons, were given a memorable welcome by the Baroda Cricket Association during the first ODI against New Zealand at the Kotambi Stadium in Vadodara on Sunday, January 11. As the venue hosted its maiden men’s ODI, the organisers decided to celebrate the occasion by honouring the modern-day greats during the mid-innings break.
Both Kohli and Rohit were presented with flower bouquets, but it was the creative – and slightly quirky – way the ceremony unfolded that instantly caught the attention of fans. In the presence of ICC president Jay Shah and BCCI head Mithun Manhas, a cupboard was wheeled out to the middle of the ground, featuring life-size stickers of the two stars on its doors.
When their names were announced, Kohli and Rohit emerged from the cupboard to loud cheers, making it feel more like an “unboxing” than a traditional felicitation.
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Social media was quick to react, with fans having a field day over the unusual presentation. Even the two cricketers couldn’t stop laughing as they walked out, accepted their bouquets, and signed their giant cut-outs, turning what could have been a routine moment into a light-hearted spectacle.
Honouring the icons of the game 🫡
ICC Chair Mr. Jay Shah, Baroda Cricket Association President Mr. Pranav Amin and BCCI Office Bearers felicitate #TeamIndia legends Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli👏👏@JayShah | @MithunManhas | @ShuklaRajiv | @ImRo45 | @imVkohli pic.twitter.com/yBxiharONn
— BCCI (@BCCI) January 11, 2026
A SPECIAL FELICITATION FOR VIRAT KOHLI & ROHIT SHARMA ❤️pic.twitter.com/VrfaLXcsU7
— KuNaL ✨ (@kunalkapoor_) January 11, 2026
The moment was fitting, given the occasion. Kotambi Stadium was hosting its first-ever men’s ODI, and nearly 35,000 spectators packed the stands to catch a glimpse of India’s biggest superstars. With both Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli now in the final phase of their illustrious careers, their arrival in Vadodara was met with huge excitement and respect from the local crowd.
For smaller centres like Vadodara, such high-profile international matches are rare, which perhaps explains the organisers’ eagerness to make the tribute special. After all, Kohli and Rohit have redefined ODI batting over the past 15 years, setting benchmarks that may take generations to be surpassed.
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On the field, the match itself was just as gripping. India won the toss and opted to bowl on a slow, two-paced surface. New Zealand’s openers, Devon Conway and Henry Nicholls, put on a century stand to put India under pressure early. However, the hosts fought back through disciplined bowling to restrict the visitors to 300 for 8, with Daryl Mitchell’s fluent innings proving the backbone of the Kiwi total.
