New Delhi: Team India batter Virat Kohli and spinner Kuldeep Yadav offered prayers at Shree Mahakaleshwar Temple in Ujjain on Saturday, January 17. The duo will look to deliver a strong performance in the ODI series decider against New Zealand at the Holkar Cricket Stadium on January 18.
The three-match series is currently levelled at 1-1, with the Men in Blue winning the opening match by 4 wickets, and the Blackcaps making a comeback in the second game to win it by 7 wickets. After offering prayers at Shree Mahakaleshwar Temple in Ujjain, Kuldeep Yadav said that it was a very good experience.
“It’s been 9 years since I first had darshan here. It brings a lot of joy and bliss. By the grace of God, everything is good, and if his grace remains, we will perform well in the World Cup,” Kuldeep told ANI.
#WATCH | Madhya Pradesh | Former Indian Captain and Star Cricketer Virat Kohli, along with Kuldeep Yadav, offered prayers at Shree Mahakaleshwar Temple in Ujjain. pic.twitter.com/GirLTB7j6I
— ANI (@ANI) January 16, 2026
In the second ODI, India’s wicketkeeper-batter KL Rahul batted brilliantly and played an unbeaten 112-run knock, but it was New Zealand’s Daryl Mitchell’s unbeaten 131-run innings that helped the visitors to cross the winning line and level the series 1-1.
Kohli becomes No.1 men’s ODI batter after more than four years
Earlier this week, Kohli reclaimed the number 1 spot in the ICC ODI rankings, replacing former Indian captain Rohit Sharma. Kohli’s first outing after becoming the number one ODI batter could yield just 23 runs in 29 balls. He has been in brilliant form for the Men in Blue and reached at the top following a match-winning 93 off 91 balls against New Zealand in the first ODI.
He has claimed the first position for the 11th time in his illustrious career. Kohli had a run of impressive scores in the three-match ODI series against South Africa, including 135, 102 and an unbeaten 65 in November-December. He also scored an unbeaten 74 against Australia in Sydney in October.
Kohli first reached to the top spot of the ODI batting rankings in October 2013 and has now spent a total of 1547 days at No.1, which is the most by an Indian batter.