Kohli, Kuldeep Seek Mahakal’s Blessings Ahead of Series-Deciding ODI

Ujjain, Jan 2026 : Former India captain Virat Kohli, along with spinner Kuldeep Yadav and Team India’s fielding coach T Dilip, visited the revered Shree Mahakaleshwar Temple in Ujjain on Saturday to seek the blessings of Lord Shiva. The players participated in the sacred Bhasma Aarti, one of the most significant rituals at the Jyotirlinga shrine, marking a spiritual start ahead of India’s crucial third and deciding ODI against New Zealand.

Virat Kohli and Kuldeep Yadav joined thousands of devotees in the early morning hours to witness the ancient ritual, which holds deep religious importance. Kohli was also felicitated by the Mahakaleshwar Temple Management Committee in recognition of his contributions to Indian cricket and his visit to the holy shrine.

Speaking after the darshan, Kuldeep Yadav described the experience as deeply fulfilling. He said it always feels special to visit Lord Mahakal and added that the entire team felt blessed. Kuldeep expressed hope that divine grace would continue to guide not only the team but also bring peace and prosperity to everyone.

The visit followed a similar spiritual outing a day earlier, when head coach Gautam Gambhir, wicketkeeper-batter KL Rahul, and batting coach Sitanshu Kotak offered prayers at the temple. Gambhir and Rahul also attended the early morning 4:00 AM Bhasma Aarti on Friday, underlining the team’s collective faith and focus ahead of the high-pressure decider.

Team India is gearing up for the third ODI against New Zealand at the Holkar Cricket Stadium on Sunday. The three-match series currently stands level at 1-1 after New Zealand bounced back strongly in the second ODI at Rajkot. India had taken the lead with a thrilling four-wicket victory in the opening match at Vadodara but were unable to maintain momentum in the second game, where Michael Bracewell’s New Zealand side secured a comprehensive seven-wicket win.

Earlier this week, Virat Kohli reclaimed the top position in the ICC ODI batting rankings, overtaking Rohit Sharma. Although his first outing after regaining the number-one spot resulted in a modest 23 runs off 29 balls, Kohli still achieved a major milestone. He became India’s highest run-scorer against New Zealand in ODI cricket.

Across 35 ODIs against the Kiwis, Kohli has scored 1,773 runs at an outstanding average of 55.4, including six centuries and 10 half-centuries, with a highest score of 154. In doing so, he surpassed Sachin Tendulkar’s long-standing record of 1,750 runs against New Zealand, further cementing his legacy as one of the greatest batters of the modern era.

(The content of this article is sourced from a news agency and has not been edited by the Mavericknews30 team.)