India’s star batsman Virat Kohli offered prayers at the Shree Mahakaleshwar Temple in Ujjain ahead of the third ODI against New Zealand. Kohli has been in rich form in recent years and carried his consistency into the ongoing series in style with a match-winning 93 in the first ODI in Vadodara.
with the series is now level at 1-1, following New Zealand’s emphatic seven-wicket win in the second match, Kohli went to seek divine blessings before the series decider to be played on 18 January at the Holkar Cricket Stadium in Indore. In a viral video doing the rounds on social media, Kohli is seen inside the temple walking alongside priests as he glorifies the almighty Lord Shiva by chanting ‘Jai Shree Mahakal’.
Watch the video here:
#WATCH | Madhya Pradesh | Former Indian captain and star cricketer Virat Kohli offered prayers at the Shree Mahakaleshwar Temple in Ujjain.
He says “Jai shree Mahakal…” pic.twitter.com/2UzpgcvFZn
— ANI (@ANI) January 17, 2026
Meanwhile, Kohli has been plundering runs with his bat and his exceptional form has taken him back to the top of the ICC Men’s ODI Batting Rankings for the first time since July 2021. He overtook teammate Rohit Sharma after a match-winning innings in the opening ODI in Vadodara.
It is the 11th occasion that Kohli has risen to the No. 1 position in the ODI batting rankings, thanks to a string of dominant performances at the highest level. The former Indian captain crossed the fifty-run mark five times in the last six innings. Kohli has amassed 492 runs in his last six matches at an exceptional average of 123 and a strike rate of 107.18, with two centuries and three half-centuries.
His latest scores include 23, 93, 135, 102 and an unbeaten 65 during the home series against South Africa in November-December, along with a smooth 74 not out against Australia in the third ODI in Sydney in October.
Courtesy of his remarkable form, Kohli he now sits atop the leaderboard with 785 rating points. Kohli first climbed to the top of the rankings in October 2013 and has now amassed a total of 825 days at the top spot – the most by any Indian batsman. He currently holds the 10th spot on the all-time list, which is topped by West Indies legend Vivian Richards, who spent an extraordinary 2,306 days at the top.
Kohli suffered a rare failure during the second ODI against New Zealand where he was dismissed for 23 off 29 balls by Kristian Clarke. The right-handed batsman hit two boundaries during his stay at the crease but was eventually dismissed after chopping a delivery back onto his stumps.
With the series on the line in Indore, India will be hoping for another winning innings from Kohli’s bat. The star batter, who has been a pillar of consistency for the side, will next be seen in India colors later this year in June after the conclusion of the current series.
– The end
Issued by:
Rishabh Beniwal
Published on:
January 17, 2026