In the midst of his intense preparations Vijay Hazare Trophy 2025-26 Indian superstar Virat Kohli why he continues to prove that he is as much a hero off the field as he is on it.
Virat Kohli’s heartwarming gesture at Alibaug hits the net
After a rigorous netting session at the Reliance Jio Stadium in Alibaug on Sunday, December 21, the 37-year-old batting icon took time out to bond with the local nets players who helped him train. In a video that went viral on social media, a star-hitting bowler, Ritwik PathakHe handed the iPhone to Kohli, who politely signed the back of the device in permanent marker.
We present the video:
Apart from just the autograph, Kohli took a few minutes to take selfies and share words of encouragement with the young athletes, a gesture that turned a routine training day into a lifelong memory for the budding cricketers. The moment of warmth came just days before Kohli returned to the domestic circuit for Delhi, reminding his fans that despite his global superstardom and the high-pressure environment of professional sports, he remains deeply connected to the roots of the game.
Also WATCH: Virat Kohli steps up his training intensity ahead of the return of the historic Vijay Hazare Trophy 2025-26
Kohli’s intense training and technical focus ahead of Vijay Hazare Trophy 2025
Kohli’s decision to train at Alibaug rather than the team’s home base in Delhi is a calculated move to maintain peak physical and mental conditioning in a private, high-performance environment. During these sessions, the world’s No. 2 ODI batsman focused on match-specific drills, particularly on both fast-paced shots and footwork against local spinners on the spinners. He recently performed against the “Player of the Series”. South Africawhere he scored an astonishing 151 points. The aim is to continue the streak that saw him hit two centuries in successive defeats in Ranchi and Raipur and ensure he enters the domestic season with zero wickets.
under his leadership Rishabh pantsKohli will play in Delhi’s opening Group D matches at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru, where he enjoys legendary status in Delhi. Royal Challengers Bengaluru. He will lead the batting line-up Andhra Pradesh on December 24 and Gujarat using these high-profile domestic games as a final warm-up for India’s international ODI series on December 26 New Zealand from January 11.
Testing his technique against local ‘red ball’ pacers like his Delhi teammates Navdeep Saini and Ishant Sharma in practice, Kohli ensures that his transition to the 50-over format remains seamless. For the first time in 15 years, this stint in the Vijay Hazare Trophy is more than the regulatory requirement; this is a strategic move for a man who is already aiming to be the mainstay of India. ODI World Cup 2027 campaign.
