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In the midst of his intense preparations for the Vijay Hazare Trophy 2025-26 , India’s superstar batter Virat Kohli continues to prove why he is as much a hero off the field as he is on it.
Virat Kohli’s heartwarming gesture at Alibaug nets for a net bowler
Following a rigorous net session at the Reliance Jio Stadium in Alibaug on Sunday, December 21, the 37-year-old batting icon took time out to interact with the local net bowlers who had been assisting his training. In a video that quickly went viral across social media, one star-struck bowler, Ritwik Pathak, handed his iPhone to Kohli, who graciously signed the back of the device with a permanent marker.
Here’s the video:
Beyond just the autograph, Kohli spent several minutes posing for selfies and sharing words of encouragement with the young athletes, a gesture that turned an ordinary practice day into a lifelong memory for the budding cricketers. This moment of warmth came just days before Kohli returns to the domestic circuit for Delhi, reminding fans that despite his global superstardom and the high-pressure environment of professional sports, he remains deeply connected to the grassroots of the game.
Also WATCH: Virat Kohli elevates training intensity ahead of his historic Vijay Hazare Trophy 2025-26 return
Kohli’s intense preparation and technical focus ahead of Vijay Hazare Trophy 2025
Kohli’s decision to train in Alibaug rather than the team’s primary 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-ranked ODI batter has been focusing on match-specific drills, particularly his footwork against both high-pace throwdowns and local spinners on turning tracks. He recently gave “Player of the Series” performance against South Africa, where he averaged a staggering 151. The goal is to sustain the rhythm that saw him smash two consecutive centuries in Ranchi and Raipur, ensuring he enters the domestic season with zero rust.
Under the leadership of Rishabh Pant, Kohli is set to feature in Delhi’s opening Group D fixtures at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru, a ground where he has achieved legendary status with Royal Challengers Bengaluru. He will lead the batting lineup against Andhra Pradesh on December 24 and Gujarat on December 26, using these high-stakes domestic games as a final rehearsal for India’s international ODI series against New Zealand starting January 11.
By testing his technique against the domestic ‘red-ball’ pacers like Delhi teammates Navdeep Saini and Ishant Sharma in practice, Kohli is ensuring that his transition back to the 50-over format remains seamless. This stint in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, his first in 15 years, is more than a regulatory requirement; it is a strategic step for a man who has already set his sights on being the linchpin of India’s ODI World Cup 2027 campaign.
