Vadodara Buzzes with Kohli and Sharma Mania Before India vs New Zealand ODI

In Vadodara, a city with deep cricket roots and a history as a princely state, the sight of thousands of fans eagerly waiting outside a hotel for a glimpse of cricket stars was reminiscent of scenes from nearly 15 years ago. Nowadays, the road outside the Indian team’s lodging is often clogged with traffic as people hope to catch a wave from modern icons like Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma.

The excitement isn’t confined to Vadodara. The fervor is expected to sweep across India—and perhaps the global cricket community—over the next week as the nation gears up for a three-match ODI series against New Zealand.

Despite the series being a repeat of last year’s Champions Trophy final, fans are primarily eager to see the two veteran superstars, now focused solely on limited-overs cricket, perform at the state-of-the-art Baroda Cricket Association Stadium in Kotambi.

Their impressive performances against South Africa at home just over a month ago have quieted critics concerned about their ability to handle the pressures of international cricket in a format that is increasingly taking a back seat to T20 matches.

As focus moves toward the T20 World Cup buildup, the New Zealand series might be one of the last chances for Rohit and Kohli to showcase their skills in the 50-over game for a while.

Unsurprisingly, the pair trained diligently at the venue on Friday in preparation for Sunday’s opening ODI. Kohli arrived early for an extended net session, while Rohit looked in great form facing the bowlers. After two intense days of practice, it wouldn’t be shocking if both opted for a lighter session on Saturday, the day before the match.

Rishabh Pant and vice-captain Shreyas Iyer, who recently led their respective teams in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, joined the squad in Vadodara on Friday and are scheduled to train on Saturday.

Whether or not Rohit and Kohli join Saturday’s practice, the traffic around the team hotel is expected to remain heavy until after Monday.

Published on Jan 09, 2026.