Star Indian batsman Virat Kohli arrived in Mumbai last night after returning from London, gearing up for the upcoming Test series against New Zealand. The 35-year-old cricketer was spotted at the Mumbai airport, where he took a moment to pose for photos with waiting photographers.
In a light-hearted exchange, the photographers playfully told Kohli, “BGT mein aag lagani hai” (You have to light up the Border-Gavaskar Trophy).
The three-match Test series between India and New Zealand is set to kick off on Wednesday, October 16, in Bengaluru. The second Test will be held in Pune on October 24, followed by the final Test in Mumbai starting November 1. The Indian squad is expected to be announced soon, with all players required to arrive in Bengaluru by October 12.
Kohli, who is just 53 runs away from reaching 9,000 Test runs, is anticipated to play a pivotal role in the series. Should he achieve this milestone, he will become the fourth Indian batter to do so, joining the ranks of cricket legends Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, and Sunil Gavaskar.
Despite a mixed performance in the recent series against Bangladesh—where Kohli scored 6 and 17 in the first Test—he made a comeback in the second match with a crucial 47 and an unbeaten 29, helping India secure a victory and sweep the series.
Kohli has a strong track record against New Zealand, amassing 866 runs in 11 Tests at an average of 45.57, which includes three centuries and three half-centuries
