Watch: Virat Kohli starts practice ahead of New Zealand ODI series

Just a few weeks before the start of the ODI series for the Indian team against New Zealand, Virat Kohli has arrived in Mumbai and officially started his batting practice to continue the same form that he showed during their previous home 50-over series against the West Indies a few weeks ago.  

The Shubman Gill-led side has already started their preparation for the upcoming ODI World Cup 2027 in South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia. The two veterans, Kohli and Rohit Sharma, are trying their best to fit in the scheme of things as they chase their third 50-over title and end a wait of 16 years.

Virat Kohli hits the nets ahead of the New Zealand ODIs

Kohli spent nearly 1.5 hours in an intense practice session at the Kotambi Stadium in Vadodara, where he prepared for the white-ball action. He faced a mix of pacers, spinners, and a few throwdown specialists, as the 37-year-old batter looked in prime form, executing a few cracking drives through the mid-off region.  

Watch Virat Kohli's net practice here- 

During the session, he was also seen to be mentoring the net bowlers, having offered tactical advice by telling them to bowl with dominance rather than following what the batter wants them to bowl. Kohli has smashed 514 runs against New Zealand in New Zealand in 11 ODI innings at 46.72.

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Meanwhile, the Delhi-born is the second-leading run-scorer in the 50-over format against the Kiwis. The right-handed batter smacked 1897 runs in 36 innings at an average of 57.48 and a blistering strike rate of 96.63, with seven centuries and 10 fifties, at the best score of unbeaten 154 runs at the Holkar Stadium in Indore.

When will Virat Kohli return to the field for India?

Kohli will be back for India for the five-match ODI series against the Blackcaps, starting on November 04, which will be played at the Eden Park in Auckland. The second encounter of the series will be on November 07 at the Henry Stadium in Wellington before the focus moves to the Seddon Park in Hamilton on November 10. 

The Bay Oval in Mount Maunganui will host the fourth and fifth ODIs of the series on November 13 and 15. All of these games will be incredibly important for the star batter, who has already retired from the Tests and T20Is.

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In the West Indies series, Kohli drilled unbeaten 139 runs in the opener at the Greenfield International Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram while ending the series with a golden duck in New Chandigarh.