Indian cricket superstar Virat Kohli ushered in the year 2026 on a personal and playful note, sharing a special moment with his wife, Bollywood actor Anushka Sharma, on social media. The post instantly became a talking point among his legion of fans.
A Masked Welcome to the New Year
The former national team captain took to Instagram to upload a photograph of the couple. In the image, both Kohli and Anushka are seen wearing masks. Kohli added a fun element to the picture by sporting a playful mask inspired by the superhero Spider-Man. He captioned the heartfelt post, "Stepping into 2026 with the light of my life."
The upload triggered an avalanche of responses from fans and followers. The comments section was quickly flooded with thousands of messages, offering new year wishes and blessings to one of India's most celebrated couples.
Dominance on the Cricket Field Continues
While his personal life made headlines, Kohli's professional focus remains sharp. The 37-year-old batsman is experiencing a rich vein of form in One-Day Internationals, even after retiring from T20I and Test cricket.
In a significant return to India's premier domestic one-day tournament after a gap of 15 years, Kohli made an immediate and powerful impact. He scored 131 and 77 in two consecutive innings, a performance that loudly announced his enduring class and unwavering hunger for runs at the highest level.
This prolific run also led to a monumental achievement. Kohli scripted history in List A cricket by becoming the fastest player ever to reach the milestone of 16,000 runs. In doing so, he surpassed a long-standing record previously held by the legendary Sachin Tendulkar.
Gearing Up for New Zealand Challenge
Kohli's domestic success comes on the back of a stellar ODI series against South Africa, where he played a pivotal role in India's 2-1 series victory. He smashed two centuries and a fifty during that contest.
The focus now shifts to the upcoming international assignment. The Indian cricket squad is scheduled to assemble in Vadodara on January 8 to begin preparations for the ODI series against New Zealand.
The three-match series will follow this schedule:
- The first ODI will be played in Vadodara on January 11.
- The teams will then move to Rajkot for the second game on January 14.
- The final ODI of the series is slated for Indore on January 18.
This ODI series will be followed by a five-match T20I series against the Black Caps, which will run from January 21 to January 31.
