Indian cricket star Virat Kohli landed in Mumbai last night after returning from London to prepare for the upcoming Test series against New Zealand.
The 35-year-old was spotted at the Mumbai airport, where he paused briefly to pose for photos with the media. In a light-hearted exchange, the photographers teased Kohli, saying, “BGT mein aag lagani hai” (You have to light up the Border-Gavaskar Trophy).
The three-match Test series between India and New Zealand will kick off on Wednesday, October 16, in Bengaluru. The second Test is scheduled for Pune on October 24, with the final match set for Mumbai starting November 1.
India’s squad announcement is anticipated soon, with all players expected to arrive in Bengaluru by October 12.
Kohli, who is just 53 runs shy of reaching 9,000 Test runs, is poised to play a key role in the series. He stands on the brink of becoming only the fourth Indian batter to achieve this milestone, joining the ranks of Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, and Sunil Gavaskar.
Despite a mixed showing in the recent series against Bangladesh—scoring 6 and 17 in the first Test before bouncing back with 47 and an unbeaten 29 in the second—Kohli played a crucial part in securing India’s series sweep.
His track record against New Zealand is impressive, with 866 runs in 11 Tests at an average of 45.57, including three centuries and three half-centuries.