One day after Gautam Gambhir stopped by the Mahakaleshwar Temple in Ujjain, Virat Kohli showed up too. Before the final match against New Zealand on January 18, he walked into the sacred site. Famous for fierce focus during games, the batsman paused here for prayers. Like his coach did just hours earlier, he took time for quiet moments under the ancient roof.
What started small grew without fanfare. Years ago, soon after marrying actor Anushka Sharma, temple visits or prayer routines weren’t things people linked with Virat Kohli. Slowly though, something shifted beneath the surface. Now, moments of stillness and belief weave into his days more openly. Not loud, just present.
Bathed in quiet reverence, Kohli stepped into the Nandi Hall just as the Bhasma Aarti began – ash drifting like whispers through candlelit air. Singing under dim lamps, he stood beside the chanting priests, voice blending with ancient mantras. Prayer followed prayer, each moment measured not by time but stillness.
Then came gestures of welcome: soft wool shawls placed on his shoulders, fabric heavy with tradition. His brow, touched with yellow chandan and sacred marks, held traces of devotion long after silence returned.
Few noticed, but Anushka Sharma wasn’t there this time – his trip stood apart, just for him. These moments keep coming back, like when he walked through Neem Karoli Baba’s ashram deep in Uttarakhand. Another stop once led him to sit quietly with Shri Premanand Maharaj, voice low, questions fewer. Each journey adds something unseen, slowly shaping how he moves through life now.
Born into a Hindu household in Delhi, Virat Kohli once showed little interest in religious matters. His early fame came from aggressive play, strict workouts, intense match focus, meals with meat. Back then, one comment stood out – “Do I look like the puja-paath types to you” – summing up his indifference. Things began changing by the late 2010s, slowly but clearly noticeable. Marriage to Anushka Sharma in 2017 marked a quiet turning point.
Temple visits followed. Ashram stays grew more common. Both sought peace, clarity, moments of reflection.
Fans observed how often he mentioned Neem Karoli Baba, even said the saint’s photo stayed on his phone screen. Guidance from Shri Premanand Maharaj added another layer – a quieter mind, steadier emotions, less tension around the game.
Fresh from leaving behind Test and T20 matches, Kohli keeps lighting up ODIs. A strong 74 in Australia opened his latest stretch, then came hundreds – two during the South Africa tour, one more in the Vijay Hazare Trophy Elite. Even though he didn’t quite click in the second game versus New Zealand, eyes are on him for the final match where he’ll likely push hard to regain rhythm.
Out at Indore on January 18 comes the last ODI, with eyes locked tight – many wonder if Kohli’s trip to Ujjain lit something quiet inside him again. While runs pile up and silence stretches between shots, one thing shows true: this player grows not just where the ball meets bat, but also far beyond it.
