Indian ODI captain Shubman Gill arrived at Vadodara Airport on Wednesday ahead of the upcoming ODI series against New Zealand, scheduled to begin on January 11. His arrival created a buzz in the city, as the New Zealand team also reached on the same day.
Gill received a warm welcome from fans eager to catch a glimpse of their captain at the airport. The 26-year-old Indian batter greeted supporters with a smile.
The Blackcaps were met with loud chants as they stepped out of the terminal. Some New Zealand players appeared surprised by the size of the crowd and recorded videos of the moment.
In the afternoon, Virat Kohli drew massive attention upon arriving at Vadodara Airport. A large crowd gathered to welcome the chase master, with chants of “Kohli, Kohli” echoing across the airport. Despite strict security, the situation turned chaotic when Kohli exited the terminal, as fans rushed to see him. The stalwart eventually needed security assistance to reach his car safely.
India and New Zealand will play the first match of the three-match series at the BCA Stadium, Kotambi. A full house is expected, as fans line up to watch their favourite stars in action.
This series will be Gill’s first international outing after being sidelined from the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 squad. He has a good record against the Blackcaps, having scored 623 runs in 12 matches, including two centuries and two half-centuries.
Gill has not played an ODI match since the Australia tour last year, where he struggled with form, failing to cross the 30-run mark in three outings. As he returns to the 50-over format, Gill will hope to regain his form against a New Zealand team that will be without their talisman Kane Williamson.