Virat Kohli brought a dose of humour to an otherwise intense training session as the Indian men’s cricket team geared up for the upcoming ODI series against New Zealand at the Vadodara International Cricket Stadium on Friday. A light-hearted moment from the nets quickly caught the internet’s attention, with a video of the former India captain mimicking pacer Arshdeep Singh’s distinctive running style going viral across social media platforms.
While Kohli’s antics entertained fans, the focus firmly remained on preparation. Alongside Rohit Sharma, the senior batter looked sharp during a demanding training session, spending close to 90 minutes facing pacers, spinners and throwdown specialists.
The session marked an important build-up to the three-match ODI series starting Sunday, which will kick off a packed calendar that includes a five-match T20I series against New Zealand, the T20 World Cup, and the Indian Premier League.
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Fresh off an impressive Vijay Hazare Trophy outing, Kohli carried his domestic form into the nets. After scoring 131 and 77 in his two List A appearances, the 36-year-old batted with authority, taking on both pace and spin with intent. He was tested by uneven bounce from the throwdown specialists but appeared in complete control, striking the ball cleanly and moving well between the wickets.
Virat Kohli is mimicking Arshdeep Singh’s running style 😂❤️ pic.twitter.com/RbobLlmn5S
— Virat Kohli Fan Club (@Trend_VKohli) January 9, 2026
Rohit Sharma also looked comfortable during his extended batting stint, as both veterans fine-tuned their games ahead of a crucial ODI assignment. India skipper Shubman Gill completed his drills smoothly too, a reassuring sign after missing the final two T20Is against South Africa last month due to a toe injury.
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However, not all key players were present for the full session. Shreyas Iyer, Rishabh Pant and Mohammed Siraj were absent, having turned out for their respective state teams in the Vijay Hazare Trophy on Thursday. The trio is expected to link up with the squad later in the day. With preparation intensifying and spirits visibly high, India appear well on track as they build momentum ahead of a demanding and high-stakes season.
India’s ODI squad for New Zealand series: Shubman Gill (C), Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul (WK), Shreyas Iyer (VC)*, Washington Sundar, Ravindra Jadeja, Mohd Siraj, Harshit Rana, Prasidh Krishna, Kuldeep Yadav, Rishabh Pant (WK), Nitish Kumar Reddy, Arshdeep Singh, Yashasvi Jaiswal
