Virat Kohli greeted by large crowds at Auckland Airport ahead of India’s five-match ODI series in New Zealand

Virat Kohli was met by a large crowd of Indian supporters at Auckland Airport on Friday, October 30, as he arrived ahead of India's five-match One-Day International series in New Zealand. Videos of the arrival circulated on social media as fans clustered around him seeking selfies, autographs and handshakes.

Kohli has joined the Indian squad for the five-match ODI series, which opens at Eden Park in Auckland on November 4. The 37-year-old was greeted by chants of "Virat, Virat" with supporters gathered behind barricades holding posters and mobile phones. Some supporters even brought posters offering advance birthday wishes for his upcoming birthday on November 5. Security personnel were present, but managing the crowd proved challenging as fans gathered around the Indian batter.

A female fan repeatedly called out for an autograph until Kohli asked her to calm down before signing her poster. She said that she had waited at the airport for two days to meet him and became emotional after finally receiving the autograph. The scenes once again highlighted his immense popularity among Indian cricket fans, even during an overseas tour.

Kohli has scored 596 runs in 13 innings in New Zealand at an average of 49.66 and a strike rate of 91.41, including one century and four half-centuries. Interestingly, among the SENA countries, New Zealand is currently the only one where Kohli's ODI batting average is below 50. He averages above 50 in the other three countries.

He arrives in New Zealand after a productive home ODI assignment against the West Indies and began that series with an unbeaten 139 off 88 deliveries in the opening match. In doing so he became only the second batter after Sachin Tendulkar to cross 15,000 ODI runs. Kohli headed to the nets soon after arriving to begin preparations for the upcoming assignment.

The first ODI is scheduled at Eden Park in Auckland on November 4. India will then travel to Wellington and Hamilton before heading to Mount Maunganui for the final two matches.