Virat Kohli Chants ‘Jai Shiva’ At Mahakaleshwar Temple

Ahead of the high-stakes series decider against New Zealand, Indian batting maestro Virat Kohli visited the Shree Mahakaleshwar Temple in Ujjain on Saturday, January 17, 2026. Accompanied by teammate Kuldeep Yadav, Kohli sought spiritual blessings before the third and final ODI scheduled for Sunday at Indore’s Holkar Stadium.

As the three-match ODI series stands deadlocked at 1-1, Virat Kohli took a brief detour from the cricket field to the sanctum of Lord Shiva. Dressed in traditional attire, the legendary batter participated in the sacred Bhasma Aarti in the pre-dawn hours.

Key Highlights of the Visit:

• Chants of ‘Jai Shiva’: A viral video captured Kohli interacting with fans outside the temple. When a devotee shouted “Jai Shiva,” Kohli immediately responded with a heartfelt “Jai Shiva” before being escorted by security.
• The Rituals: Both Kohli and Kuldeep Yadav were seen sitting in the Nandi Hall, fully immersed in the Vedic chants and rituals.
• Team Spirit: The visit follows a similar spiritual trip by Head Coach Gautam Gambhir and KL Rahul, who offered prayers at the Jyotirlinga on Friday.

Kohli’s “Vintage” Form in 2026

At 37, Kohli has redefined his role as an ODI specialist. Since the tour of Australia in late 2025, his numbers have been staggering:

• Current Series: Scored a fluent 93 off 91 balls in the first ODI at Vadodara.
• Milestones: During this series, he surpassed Sachin Tendulkar to become India’s highest run-scorer against New Zealand in ODIs and became the second-highest run-scorer in international cricket history.
• Recent Century Streak: Two massive centuries (135 and 102) in the preceding home series against South Africa.

Match Preview: India vs New Zealand (3rd ODI)

The Stakes: India won the opener by 4 wickets, but the Black Caps bounced back with a 7-wicket victory in Rajkot. With Kohli reclaiming the ICC No. 1 ODI Batter spot this week, all eyes will be on him to anchor India to a series win.