Indian cricket star Virat Kohli arrived in Mumbai last night after flying in from London, gearing up for the much-anticipated Test series against New Zealand. The 35-year-old was seen at the Mumbai airport, where he kindly posed for a few pictures with the paparazzi before leaving.

During his brief interaction with the photographers, Virat Kohli shared a light-hearted moment. As they snapped his pictures, some of the paparazzi playfully urged him, “BGT mein aag lagani hai” (You have to light up the Border-Gavaskar Trophy), referencing India’s famed rivalry with Australia.

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Although it’s New Zealand India will face next, the comment highlighted Virat Kohli’s reputation for delivering big performances in high-stakes matches. The three-match Test series against New Zealand is set to begin on Wednesday, October 16, in Bengaluru. The second Test will be played in Pune, starting October 24, while the final match is scheduled in Mumbai from November 1.

Virat Kohli Spotted At Mumbai Airport As He Arrives Back in India For The New Zealand Test Series.🖤#ViratKohli #INDvNZ @imVkohli pic.twitter.com/UUoML7UgcI

— virat_kohli_18_club (@KohliSensation) October 10, 2024

The BCCI is expected to announce the full squad soon, and the entire Indian team will gather in Bengaluru by October 12 to begin preparations. Virat Kohli is coming into this series on the back of a mixed showing in the recent matches against Bangladesh.

After struggling in the first Test with scores of 6 and 17, he made a solid comeback in the second Test. His 47 off 35 balls in the first innings and an unbeaten 29 in the second innings helped India secure a seven-wicket victory, completing a clean sweep in the series.

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Virat Kohli’s track record against New Zealand is impressive, having scored 866 runs in 11 Tests at an average of 45.57, with three centuries and three half-centuries. Moreover, Kohli is on the verge of a major career milestone—he needs just 53 more runs to become the fourth Indian player to cross 9,000 runs in Test cricket. This achievement would place him in elite company alongside Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, and Sunil Gavaskar.