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Virat Kohli follows Gambhir; performs Bhasma Aarti in Ujjain ahead of 3rd NZ ODI

Soumyajit Dutta

Virat Kohli visits the Mahakaleshwar temple [Source: @Trend_VKohli/X]Virat Kohli visits the Mahakaleshwar temple [Source: @Trend_VKohli/X]

Just a day after India head coach Gautam Gambhir’s visit, star batter Virat Kohli also paid a visit to the Mahakaleshwar Temple in Ujjain ahead of the third ODI against New Zealand on January 18. Virat Kohli followed in his coach’s footsteps by seeking blessings at the revered shrine just before the series decider.

Notably, Virat Kohli has not always been known as a frequent follower of Hindu temples and rituals, especially during the early years after his marriage to Anushka Sharma. However, over the years, there has been a visible shift in his spiritual journey.

Virat Kohli’s spiritual visit at Mahakaleshwar temple in Ujjain

Some of his notable spiritual visits include Neem Karoli Baba’s ashram and meetings with Sri Premanand Maharaj. Kohli has also attended the Bhasma Aarti at the Mahakaleshwar Temple on multiple occasions, including in March 2023 and early 2025.

Ahead of the final ODI, Kohli visited the temple alone, without Anushka Sharma, who usually accompanies him during such religious engagements.

Virat Kohli attended the Bhasma Aarti at the Nandi Hall, where he was seen singing and praying alongside the pandits present. After the aarti concluded, he offered prayers and was warmly received by the temple authorities.

The officials honoured him with shawls and religious attire. Kohli was seen in a new avatar, with his forehead adorned with sacred tikas and yellow chandan marks.

While Kohli’s visit drew significant attention from locals and security personnel, his presence at religious sites was not a common sight during the early phase of his career in the 2010s.

Virat Kohli’s spiritual journey from a ‘non-believer’ to a believer

Born and raised in a Hindu family in Delhi, Kohli was initially known for his fiery and aggressive on-field persona, with a strong focus on fitness, non-vegetarian food, and cricketing passion.

One of his remarks from that period, “Do I look like the puja-paath types to you,” had gone viral, reflecting his casual stance on religious practices.

However, a gradual change was noticed in the late 2010s, particularly after his marriage to Anushka Sharma. Since 2017, the couple has visited several Hindu temples and ashrams seeking spiritual guidance.

They have made multiple trips to Uttarakhand to visit Neem Karoli Baba’s ashram, with fans often pointing out that Kohli keeps a picture of the guru as his phone wallpaper.

Spiritual leader Shri Premanand Maharaj has also been seen blessing the couple on several occasions, with many believing his influence helped Kohli find a calmer and more balanced approach to life and cricket.

Virat Kohli enjoys solid cricketing run

On the cricketing front, Virat Kohli continues to enjoy a prolific run, especially in the ODI format, following his retirement from Test and T20 cricket.

He has been in peak form in one-day internationals, starting with a 74-run knock in the third ODI in Australia. He followed it up with two centuries in the South Africa ODIs and another hundred in the Vijay Hazare Trophy Elite.

Although the New Zealand series saw a slight dip, with Kohli struggling in the second ODI, he will be keen to bounce back in the final match. The series decider is set to take place in Indore on January 18, where Kohli will look to end the series on a high note.