Indian cricket star Virat Kohli shared a heartwarming moment with young fans ahead of the first One Day International against New Zealand, and the brief interaction has now gone viral on social media.
During a training session in Vadodara, Kohli took time out to meet children who had gathered near the practice area, signing autographs and posing for photographs. Among them, one young boy caught everyone’s attention for his striking resemblance to Kohli’s own childhood days. The moment Kohli noticed the similarity, he broke into a broad smile, clearly amused by what fans later dubbed “mini Kohli”.
A viral moment of nostalgia
Photos and videos from the session quickly surfaced on social media platform X, with fans drawing comparisons between the youngster and Kohli’s old childhood photographs. The images triggered a wave of nostalgia, with many users celebrating the lighter, more personal side of the senior batter.
Kohli appeared relaxed and cheerful as he interacted with the children, offering a refreshing contrast to the intense focus usually associated with pre-match preparations.
Vadodara gears up for historic ODI
Kohli arrived in Vadodara earlier this week to a warm reception from fans at the airport. The city is set to host a men’s ODI for the first time in several years, adding to the excitement around the opening match of the three-game series.
India will face New Zealand in the first ODI in Vadodara, followed by matches in Rajkot on January 14 and Indore on January 18. The teams will then contest a five-match T20I series.
Form boost ahead of busy season
Kohli enters the series in strong form after returning to domestic cricket last month. He featured in two Vijay Hazare Trophy matches in December — his first appearance in the tournament in 16 years — scoring a commanding 131 in one game and a fluent 77 in the next.
As India prepare for a packed international calendar, the viral “mini Kohli” moment has added a feel-good touch to the build-up.