Vadodara witnessed a frenzy on Wednesday as cricket superstar Virat Kohli arrived ahead of the first ODI against New Zealand. The match, scheduled for January 11, 2026, will be held at the BCA Stadium, Kotambi.

Kohli's arrival at the Vadodara airport was met with massive fanfare. Overwhelmed by the crowd, fans chanted "Kohli, Kohli" as they rushed to catch a glimpse of the star. The excitement made it difficult for Kohli to navigate through the airport, and security personnel had to assist him in reaching his car safely. Alongside Kohli, teammate Nitish Reddy also arrived in Vadodara, with more players expected to arrive soon.

Videos and images of the grand welcome quickly went viral on social media, demonstrating Kohli's widespread popularity. Such scenes have become common, with stadiums selling out rapidly and large crowds gathering at airports and public appearances.

Kohli last played an ODI in Vadodara 15 years ago against New Zealand. The three-match ODI series will take place in Vadodara (January 11), Saurashtra (January 14), and Indore (January 18).

On the field, Kohli aims to continue his strong ODI form. He performed well in the recent ODI series against South Africa and the Vijay Hazare Trophy. As India prepares for the New Zealand series, Kohli seeks to maintain his momentum, with the ICC 2027 World Cup on the horizon.