Virat Kohli received a thunderous welcome on his arrival in Vadodara on Wednesday, January 7, ahead of India’s three-match ODI series against New Zealand. Long before his flight landed, fans had gathered outside the airport, eagerly waiting for a glimpse of the former India captain. As soon as Kohli stepped out, the atmosphere turned electric, with chants of “Kohli, Kohli” echoing through the terminal.
Security personnel were forced to form a tight cordon as fans rushed forward, mobile phones raised high, hoping for selfies and videos. For a few moments, Kohli struggled to reach his vehicle, a powerful reminder of his unmatched popularity and influence on Indian soil. The 35-year-old arrives for the ODI series in impressive form.
Virat Kohli ended his overseas campaign on a positive note with a fluent half-century in the final ODI in Australia, before stamping his authority at home against South Africa. In that series, he struck back-to-back centuries and followed them up with a well-crafted fifty, reaffirming his dominance in familiar conditions.
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His purple patch extended into domestic cricket as well, where he turned out for Delhi in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, scoring a commanding century and a composed fifty to underline his commitment to the 50-over format.
#WATCH | Gujarat: Former Indian Captain and Star Cricketer Virat Kohli arrives at Vadodara for Team India’s ODI match against New Zealand on 11th January. pic.twitter.com/cQbhCghMZy
— ANI (@ANI) January 7, 2026
Since stepping away from T20 Internationals and Test cricket, Kohli has shifted his full focus to ODIs, and the results have spoken for themselves. The upcoming New Zealand series will be his first international assignment of 2026, and the veteran batter will be keen to carry forward the momentum he built last year.
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With the ODI World Cup on the horizon, every innings now carries added significance for both Kohli and the Indian team. The series opener in Vadodara also brings back fond memories for Kohli. The last time he played an ODI at the venue was in 2010, also against New Zealand. On that occasion, a young Kohli scored an unbeaten 63 while chasing, partnering Gautam Gambhir, who starred with an unbeaten 126.
India went on to win comfortably, and over a decade later, Kohli returns to the same ground, once again at the centre of attention. The first ODI will be played on January 11 in Vadodara, followed by the second and third matches in Rajkot and Indore on January 14 and 18, respectively.
