Watch: Fans praise Virat Kohli at Mumbai airport despite India’s 1-2 ODI series loss to New Zealand in 2026

Team India star batter Virat Kohli was seen at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Airport in Mumbai after the ODI series against New Zealand ended. India lost the series 1-2, but Kohli was the top run-scorer for the team. In the last match at Holkar Stadium in Indore on Sunday, January 18, he scored 124 runs, which was his 54th ODI century. However, India lost the match by 41 runs, marking their first home ODI series loss since 2023.

In the first ODI in Vadodara, Kohli played a key role by scoring 93 runs and helping India win the match. In the second game in Rajkot, he scored 23 runs. With this series over, India’s next ODI matches will be during the tour of England in June and July.

For now, Kohli will not play ODIs as Team India prepares for a busy T20 schedule. The team will play a five-match T20 series against New Zealand, followed by preparations for the 2026 T20 World Cup. At the airport, Kohli thanked fans for their praise and asked them to be careful to avoid any accidents before entering the terminal.

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Virat Kohli to return in IPL 2026

Virat Kohli will next be seen playing in the 2026 Indian Premier League (IPL). He will represent defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB). Kohli is currently in very good form and fans are excited to see him back in IPL action.

Kohli had a great ODI series at home against New Zealand. He scored 240 runs in three matches, with an average of 80 and a strike rate of 105.26. He came into this series after strong performances against South Africa and good runs for Delhi in the 2025–26 Vijay Hazare Trophy.

Shubman Gill praises Kohli’s form

Team India captain Shubman Gill said Kohli’s form is a big positive for the team, even after losing the series. He praised Kohli’s batting and also spoke about Harshit Rana’s effort at No. 8 and the good performance of the fast bowlers.

In the final match, Kohli kept India in the chase with a strong 99-run partnership with Harshit Rana for the seventh wicket. But both batters got out within a few overs, and New Zealand easily dismissed the remaining batters to win the series in a historic result.