A smile spread across the field when Virat Kohli stopped mid-practice. This happened in Vadodara, just days before India faces New Zealand in ODIs. Instead of staying focused on drills, he walked over to a cluster of kids cheering near the boundary. His time suddenly belonged to them – signing caps, shirts, anything handed his way. Cameras clicked nonstop while small voices called out his name.
One child, quiet yet striking, caught everyone’s eye. The resemblance? So strong it felt unreal. Same intense gaze. Same determined stance. Like looking at a photo from twenty years ago.
A grin spreads across Kohli’s face in pictures taken during the meet, captured mid-laugh while chatting with children.
That instant popped up on X, spreading fast without warning. Folks online started calling one boy a tiny version of the cricketer, drawn by how much they looked alike. Side-by-side shots began circulating – kid next to old snapshots of Kohli growing up. Seeing that mix stirred something warm in longtime fans.
A loose, upbeat Kohli shows up just as busy fixtures loom. This week brought him to Vadobara, where excitement hums – this place revives its men’s ODI stage after years. Crowds swarmed the terminal, eager to spot him. Right off the flight, he slipped into practice, fitting back in without pause.
Ahead of the first game in Vadobara, India meets New Zealand in a three-part ODI clash. Next stop: Rajkot, where action unfolds on January 14. Then comes Indore, hosting the third match come January 18.
Once those games wrap up, attention shifts to five T20Is between the pair. Kohli, known for solid performances versus the Black Caps, looks to keep that rhythm alive.
A comeback turned heads late last year when the 36-year-old stepped into domestic cricket after ages. Two games in the Vijay Hazare Trophy were all it took for attention to follow.
Sixteen years had slipped by since his last outing in that competition. Right away, he lit up the field with a stunning 131. That was quickly backed by a smooth 77 just days later. One thing stood out during those innings – he pushed past 16,000 runs in List A history.
Speed carried him there faster than anyone before, breaking a benchmark once held tight by Sachin Tendulkar.
Success at home followed a strong run in one-day games versus South Africa, where his efforts helped shape India’s 2–1 win. Riding confidence high and energized by moments with eager children, Kohli now eyes the upcoming matches against New Zealand – wearing that grin again.
