Indian batting great Virat Kohli arrived in Vadodara on Wednesday ahead of the first ODI against New Zealand, scheduled on January 11 at the newly-built Kotambi Stadium.
However, fans mobbed Kohli at the airport, seeking selfies and autographs. The incident was captured by news agencies ANI and PTI.
Kohli mania in Vadodara as India icon arrives for season opener
Kohli’s arrival has triggered massive excitement among fans, with the former India captain now active in only one format of international cricket, making every appearance a high-profile event.
Watch the viral video here of fans mobbing Kohli here:
Tickets for Kotambi Stadium ODI snapped up in under 8 minutes
Reflecting the scale of the frenzy, tickets for the opening ODI were sold out within just eight minutes of going online, a testimony to Kohli’s enduring appeal and the anticipation surrounding India’s first international match of the year at the new venue.
IND vs NZ series marks Team India’s first international assignment of 2026
The India-New Zealand series marks Team India’s first international outing of 2026, featuring three ODIs and five T20Is. The limited-overs tour is expected to draw strong interest as India begin the year against one of their most consistent rivals ahead of the T20 World Cup in February.
Rohit Sharma, Kohli headline India’s ODI return against New Zealand
The ODI leg gains added significance with Rohit Sharma also part of the squad, bringing together two of India’s most celebrated batters in the 50-over format. Vadodara’s Kotambi Stadium will host its first men’s international match, with a packed house expected for the series opener.
This will be the second international cricket match at the stadium. Previously the stadium hosted the Indian Women’s team ODI against West Indies. During the December 2024 match, Harmanpreet Kaur-led side had won that game comfortably by 5 wickets and 130 balls remaining.
India’s ODI squad for New Zealand series: Shubman Gill (Captain), Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul (wicketkeeper), Shreyas Iyer (Vice-Captain), Washington Sundar, Ravindra Jadeja, Mohd Siraj, Harshit Rana, Prasidh Krishna, Kuldeep Yadav, Rishabh Pant (wicketkeeper), Nitish Kumar Reddy, Arshdeep Singh, Yashasvi Jaiswal