Virat Kohli playfully mocks Arshdeep Singh’s run-up during India training session

Published - 09 Jan 2026, 21:45 IST | Updated - 09 Jan 2026, 21:47 IST

Former Indian captain Virat Kohli was in a jovial mood during India’s training session on Friday, January 9, in Vadodara, where he was seen humorously mimicking left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh’s running style. The light-hearted moment came ahead of India’s three-match ODI series against New Zealand, which begins on January 11.

During the practice session, Kohli appeared relaxed and cheerful, sharing a laugh with teammates as he playfully imitated Arshdeep’s run-up. The moment quickly caught attention, reflecting the positive atmosphere within the Indian camp. Both Kohli and Arshdeep head into the series in good form, having delivered impressive performances in the Vijay Hazare Trophy (VHT) 2025-26.

Virat Kohli is mimicking Arshdeep Singh’s running style 😂❤️

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Kohli featured in two matches during the tournament, scoring 208 runs at an outstanding average of 104 and a strike rate of 128.39. His tally included a fifty and a magnificent century, with his standout knock being a brilliant 131 off 101 balls against Andhra Pradesh.

Arshdeep also enjoyed a productive VHT campaign, representing Punjab in two matches. The left-arm pacer picked up seven wickets at an excellent average of 8.57 while maintaining an economy rate of below 4. His best performance came against Sikkim, where he returned impressive figures of 5/34.

In ODIs, Kohli has already established himself as one of the greatest batters of all time. He has scored 14,557 runs in 308 matches, the second-most in the format, at an exceptional average of 58.46, including 76 fifties and 53 centuries. Against New Zealand, Kohli has amassed 1,657 runs in 33 ODIs and is on the verge of becoming India’s leading run-scorer against the Black Caps.

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He has also hit six centuries against them, with another hundred set to make him the batter with the most ODI centuries versus New Zealand. His best performance against the Kiwis came in 2016 at the IS Bindra Stadium, where he scored an unbeaten 154.

Arshdeep, meanwhile, is still relatively new to the 50-over format. He has played 14 ODIs so far, taking 22 wickets in 13 innings at an average of 24.90, a strike rate of 28.2, and an economy of 5.29. His best ODI figures stand at 5/37. Although he has featured in three ODIs against New Zealand without picking up a wicket.