WATCH | Virat, Kuldeep visit Ujjain’s Mahakaleshwar Temple:Indian cricketers offer prayers ahead of ODI series decider on 18 Jan

Indian cricketers Virat Kohli and Kuldeep Yadav visited the Shree Mahakaleshwar Temple in Ujjain. Team India fielding coach T Dilip was also present with them at the temple. With the ODI series tied 1-1, the two will be in action as India take on New Zealand in the decider at the Holkar Stadium in Indore on 18 January. India would be keen on getting their first series win when they take on New Zealand in the third ODI. New Zealand had levelled the series 1-1 by winning the second ODI in Rajkot, with Daryl Mitchell scoring a century. Virat Kohli, Kuldeep Yadav offer prayers at Shree Mahakaleshwar Temple In videos shared by news agency ANI on social media, Virat and Kuldeep were seen offering prayers at the temple. While leaving the temple, Virat was escorted by priests and security officials. Virat was heard saying, ‘Jai Shree Mahakal’ after being greeted by a reporter. Kuldeep Yadav shared that it felt very good to come to Mahakal Temple and he only prayed to do well in cricket and life.
Both the cricketers reached the Mahakal Temple at 4:00 AM on Saturday and attended the Bhasma Aarti ritual. They sat in the Nandi Hall for about two hours and watched the Aarti. Virat and Kuldeep had sandalwood paste applied to their foreheads by a priest during their stay at the temple. Earlier, Team India head coach Gautam Gambhir and wicketkeeper-batter KL Rahul sought blessings at this temple. This, however, is not the first time Virat has visited the holy site. In 2023, he, along with his wife and actor Anushka Sharma, had offered prayers at the temple. Also read: Shreyas Iyer replaces Tilak Varma for 3 T20I matches against NZ: Returns to shortest format after 2 years; Ravi Bishnoi to play instead of Washington Sundar Virat Kohli’s record-breaking show in Vadodara ODI Virat achieved multiple records during his 93-run knock in the ODI series opener in Vadodara on 11 January. The star cricketer became the fastest to score 28,000 international runs, breaking Sachin Tendulkar’s record. He surpassed the legendary Kumar Sangakkara, becoming the second-highest run-getter in international cricket. Although Virat scored just 23 in the second match in Rajkot, he once again broke Sachin’s record in scoring the most runs in ODIs against New Zealand.