Virat Kohli sparks airport frenzy in Auckland upon arrival for New Zealand ODIs

Virat Kohli received a rousing reception from fans upon arriving in Auckland ahead of India's five-match ODI series against New Zealand. The former India captain was mobbed for selfies and autographs, with security personnel having to escort him through the airport.Fans gathered behind barricades, chanting Kohli's name and seeking selfies. (PTI Photo)Auckland,Oct 30, 2026 09:15 ISTVirat Kohli's arrival in Auckland ahead of India's five-match ODI series against New Zealand turned into quite a spectacle, with fans gathering in large numbers to catch a glimpse of the batting superstar. Despite tight security, the former India captain was mobbed for selfies and autographs as he made his way through the airport terminal.Videos circulating on social media showed supporters packed behind barricades, chanting Kohli's name and holding up their phones as he walked towards the exit. Some fans also carried posters wishing him in advance for his birthday, which falls on November 5.Kohli arrives in Auckland on his arrival. https://t.co/JulV58aeUU— Vimal Kumar (@Vimalwa) October 30, 2026Kohli tried to manage the growing excitement by raising his hands and gesturing to the crowd to settle down. One particularly persistent fan continued calling out to him for an autograph, prompting the Indian batter to ask her to calm down before signing her poster. Security personnel eventually had to help him move through the gathering crowd.The 37-year-old arrived in New Zealand on Friday, October 30, to join the Indian squad ahead of the ODI series, which begins at Eden Park on November 4. His teammate Rohit Sharma had arrived in Auckland a day earlier, while Test and ODI captain Shubman Gill has also joined the squad and stepped up his preparations in the nets. KOHLI EYES STRONG NEW ZEALAND RETURNKohli heads into the series after India's 2-1 ODI victory over the West Indies at home earlier this month. He began the assignment with an unbeaten 139 off 88 balls, becoming only the second batter after Sachin Tendulkar to cross 15,000 runs in ODI cricket. He followed it up with 29 in the second match before being dismissed for a golden duck in the series finale.The former India captain remains the world's No. 3-ranked ODI batter and has an impressive record in New Zealand, having scored 596 runs in 13 innings at an average of 49.66 and a strike rate of 91.41. His tally includes four half-centuries and a century, a 123 off 111 balls against New Zealand in Napier in 2014. India have announced two separate squads for the five-match series, with Gill leading the side in the first three ODIs and Shreyas Iyer taking over for the final two. Gill, KL Rahul, Anshul Kamboj and Prasidh Krishna are among those expected to leave the ODI squad to prepare for the subsequent two-Test series, although Krishna's participation depends on clearing a fitness test.The ODI series begins in Auckland on November 4 before moving to Wellington and Hamilton, with the final two matches scheduled in Mount Maunganui.- Ends