Virat Kohli met Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde in London on September 11, 2026, in what the latter has described as a goodwill visit. The meeting covered Maharashtra’s infrastructure projects, government welfare schemes and the development of young sporting talent in India.
The two discussed a wide range of topics during their meeting, with Shinde outlining Maharashtra’s economic standing and ongoing development work. He also spoke about the state’s welfare programmes and how infrastructure improvements are expected to benefit citizens across Maharashtra.
“Virat Kohli lives in London, and when he learned that I am here, he met me for a goodwill visit. I was delighted that such a big Indian cricketer, the one with the most centuries, is so down-to-earth. We had met before, but I was particularly happy with the direct conversation we had today,” Shinde told reporters.
Where does Kohli stand ahead of India’s next ODI assignment?
The Delhi-born cricketer has been in strong form in the 50-over format through 2026. He scored 384 runs in six ODI innings this year at an average of 64.00 with a strike rate above 106, including one century and three fifties. During India‘s tour of England in August 2026, he contributed 144 runs across three ODI innings, with two fifties and a best score of 74.
In his overall ODI career, Kohli has accumulated 14,941 runs in 314 matches across 302 innings at an average of 58.59, with 54 centuries and 79 fifties. He needs 59 more runs to reach 15,000 ODI runs. The Men in Blue are scheduled to host the West Indies in a three-match ODI series beginning September 27, at the Greenfield International Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram.
The squad for the series has not been announced yet, but Kohli is expected to reach his homeland soon, joining the Indian camp ahead of the all-important series. The team will then be travelling to New Zealand for an all-format tour, where Kohli will be taking part in the one-day matches.
