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As the Indian men’s cricket team gears up for a crucial home ODI series against New Zealand, discussions around Virat Kohli have once again taken center stage. This time, however, it wasn’t the star batter’s on-field exploits but a sharp remark from his brother Vikas Kohli that grabbed attention, as he openly took aim at Kohli’s critics ahead of the three-match series.
Vikas Kohli fires shots at his brother Virat’s critics
Vikas, who has often stood firmly by his brother during highs and lows, delivered a blunt message on social media platform Threads. Without naming anyone directly, he suggested that a section of commentators and critics rely heavily on Virat’s name for relevance.
In his post, Vikas wrote in Hindi, implying that some people “cannot run their households without mentioning Virat Kohli.” The remark was widely interpreted as frustration toward persistent criticism that follows the former India captain, regardless of his form or contributions. While Vikas refrained from calling out specific individuals, the tone of his statement reflected fatigue with constant scrutiny surrounding one of India’s most celebrated cricketers.
“SEEMS LIKE LOGON KI DAAL ROTI NAHI CHALTI…. BINA VIRAT KOHLI KA NAAM LIYE HUE,” wrote Vikas.
Virat’s arrival sparks fan frenzy in Vadodara
Meanwhile, Virat landed in Vadodara on Wednesday, January 7, ahead of the series opener against New Zealand. His arrival at the airport created a massive buzz, with fans turning up in large numbers just to catch a glimpse of the batting icon. Security had to be tightened as chants and cheers filled the terminal, underlining Virat’s enduring popularity across the country.
Notably, India and New Zealand are set to lock horns in the first ODI at the BCA Stadium on Sunday, January 11. The series is seen as an important assignment for India as they continue preparations for upcoming global tournaments.
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Strong ODI form and domestic comeback boosts confidence
Virat heads into the New Zealand series in impressive form in the 50-over format. Recently, he played a pivotal role in India’s 2-1 ODI series victory over South Africa at home. The veteran batter struck consecutive centuries in the first two matches, scoring a commanding 135 off 120 balls followed by a fluent 102 off 93 deliveries. He capped off the series with an unbeaten 65 from just 45 balls in the decider, finishing as the highest run-scorer with 302 runs from three innings. The performances silenced many doubts and reaffirmed his dominance in ODIs.
Adding another layer to his resurgence, Virat returned to domestic cricket last month by featuring in the Vijay Hazare Trophy for Delhi, his first appearance in the competition in nearly 15 years. He made an immediate impact, smashing a superb 131 off 101 balls against Andhra before following it up with a brisk 77 off 61 balls versus Gujarat.
With form firmly on his side and backing from his family, fans are optimistic that Virat will continue his rich vein of scoring in the ODIs against the Kiwis, once again letting his bat do the talking amid the noise off the field.
