Virat Kohli blended faith with form as the Indian batting icon visited the Shree Mahakaleshwar Temple in Ujjain ahead of the all-important third ODI against New Zealand. With the three-match series finely poised at 1-1, the star batter sought divine blessings before the decider scheduled to be played on January 18 at the Holkar Cricket Stadium in Indore.

Kohli, who has been in sublime touch over the last few years, has carried that consistency into the ongoing ODI series. He set the tone in the series opener at Vadodara with a commanding knock of 93, anchoring India’s successful chase and reminding everyone why he remains the gold standard in 50-over cricket. However, New Zealand bounced back strongly in the second ODI, handing India a seven-wicket defeat to level the series.

A video of Kohli’s temple visit soon surfaced on social media, showing him walking alongside priests inside the sanctum while chanting “Jai Shree Mahakal.” The moment struck a chord with fans, reflecting Kohli’s spiritual side at a time when pressure is at its peak and the series is on the line.

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On the field, Kohli’s bat continues to do the talking. His remarkable run of form has propelled him back to the No. 1 position in the ICC Men’s ODI Batting Rankings for the first time since July 2021. He overtook teammate Rohit Sharma following his match-winning effort in the first ODI, marking the 11th time in his career that he has climbed to the summit of the rankings.

#WATCH | Madhya Pradesh | Former Indian Captain and Star Cricketer Virat Kohli offered prayers at Shree Mahakaleshwar Temple in Ujjain.

He says, “Jai shree Mahakal…” pic.twitter.com/2UzpgcvFZn

— ANI (@ANI) January 17, 2026

Kohli’s recent numbers underline his dominance. In his last six innings, the former India captain has crossed the fifty mark five times, amassing 492 runs at a staggering average of 123 and a strike rate of over 107. His run includes two centuries and three half-centuries, showcasing both consistency and attacking intent.

His purple patch began during the home series against South Africa, where he registered scores of 135, 102 and an unbeaten 65, alongside a steady 93 earlier in the sequence. He also chipped in with a fluent 74 not out against Australia in Sydney, further strengthening his case as the most dependable ODI batter of this era.

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With 785 rating points, Kohli now leads the ODI rankings and has accumulated 825 days at No. 1 across his career — the most by any Indian batter. Although he endured a rare failure in the second ODI, scoring 23 before being dismissed by Kristian Clarke, expectations remain sky-high. As India head into the Indore decider, all eyes will once again be on Kohli, whose ability to rise in big moments could prove decisive in sealing the series.