Virat Kohli, former Indian captain, visited the Shree Mahakaleshwar Temple in Ujjain ahead of the crucial third ODI against New Zealand in Indore on Sunday, January 18. After India won the series opener in Vadodara, the visitors responded with a resounding victory in Rajkot, tying the three-match series at 1-1.
Their win in the second ODI broke a string of eight successive defeats against India in one-day internationals for New Zealand. The Kiwis will be aiming to claim their maiden ODI series win in India with a triumph in the decider.
With the key trip looming, Kohli visited the fabled 150-year-old shrine to pray. His Team India mate Kuldeep Yadav was also seen in the footage on social media.
Here are two videos demonstrating the same:
🚨 KOHLI AT UJJAIN 🚨
– Virat Kohli at Shree Mahakaleshwar Temple in Ujjain for blessings. 🥹❤️ pic.twitter.com/OyInzQEasR
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) January 17, 2026Virat Kohli and Kuldeep Yadav attended the Bhasma Aarti at the Shree Mahakaleshwar Temple. ❤️pic.twitter.com/BIDq8q8MU8
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) January 17, 2026Kohli struck an incredible 93 in the first ODI, which India won by six wickets in a run chase of 301. However, he was dismissed for 21 in the second ODI as the hosts scored only 284, leaving New Zealand chasing the goal down in the 48th over.
Virat Kohli became the No.1-ranked ODI batter amid the IND-NZ ODI series
As India skipper Virat Kohli has gone 231 days without an international hundred but at least no ugly brawl followed his scratchy half-century against New Zealand in the second ODI. It was his first win of the season, and first time with the top honor since early in the 2021 season.
So far, the versatile batter has spent most days at number one in ODI rankings for a batting player (1,550), longest by an Indian and third on the overall list.
Kohli has been in terrific touch in the 50-over format since he announced that he would retire from Test cricket in the middle of 2025. After his pair against Australia in October, he then compiled seven successive fifty-plus scores in List-A cricket.
He made five in ODIs, including consecutive hundreds, then left off from there in the second New Zealand ODI. Virat Kohli will look to continue his blazing run in the decider as India would aim for their first home ODI series victory over Kiwis.
