India’s star cricketer Virat Kohli arrived at Vadodara airport to prepare for the upcoming ODI series against New Zealand, commencing on January 11, 2026. The series will kick off at the BCA Stadium, Kotambi, amid high anticipation.
Upon his arrival, a large crowd gathered at the airport, cheering for Kohli with chants of “Kohli, Kohli” resonating through the air. Despite tight security measures, chaos ensued as fans clamored to catch a glimpse of the cricket icon, requiring security assistance for Kohli to safely reach his vehicle.
In addition to Kohli, his teammate Nitish Reddy also landed in Vadodara, with more players expected to join them in the city shortly. Kohli recently showcased his prowess in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, excelling in List A cricket after a 15-year hiatus. He achieved a remarkable milestone by surpassing 16,000 runs in List A matches, outpacing Sachin Tendulkar’s record as the fastest to reach this feat.
Kohli’s exceptional form since his return to international cricket during the Australia tour has been noteworthy. Despite a slow start with two ducks, he has since delivered outstanding performances. In the recent ODI series against South Africa, Kohli impressed with back-to-back centuries, emerging as India’s top scorer.
Approaching another milestone, Kohli is on the verge of becoming the fastest cricketer to reach 28,000 runs in international cricket, a mere 25 runs away from this achievement. If he accomplishes this in the first ODI, he will join the ranks of Sachin Tendulkar and Kumar Sangakkara as the third player to achieve this milestone.
With an impressive career tally of 27,975 runs across 623 innings, including 84 centuries and 145 half-centuries, Kohli’s record stands strong. Tendulkar achieved this milestone in his 644th innings, while Sangakkara did so in his 666th innings.
Kohli boasts a formidable track record against New Zealand, amassing 1,657 runs in 33 ODIs, featuring six centuries and nine half-centuries.
