Virat Kohli and Gautam Gambhir, who had heated arguments in multiple IPL seasons, finally sat down together for a candid conversation ahead of the first Bangladesh Test. Not only did they put an end to the rumours of a possible rift between them but also recalled some special moments from the past.
During the conversation, they discussed how divine interventions helped them brave pressure situations and play some memorable knocks, especially in Test cricket. Gambhir revealed that Kohli chanted ‘Om Namah Shivay’ before facing a delivery during the 2014 Australia tour, which marked the end of MS Dhoni’s Test career. Kohli had his breakthrough series Down Under in 2014, scoring 692 runs with 4 centuries at an average of 86.50.
“I remember when you had that bumper series in Australia where you scored heaps and heaps of runs. You told me that you kept chanting ‘Om Namah Shivay’ before every delivery, and that got you into the zone. For me, it was the same when I played in Napier,” Gambhir said.
The Indian head coach mentioned his game-saving innings in Napier where he played a marathon innings, facing 436 balls for his 137 to deny New Zealand a victory.
“Looking back, can I bat for another two-and-a-half days? I don’t think I could have done that again. But the only thing I did throughout those two-and-a-half days was listen to the Hanuman Chalisa.
“It’s divine to be in that zone because only you can experience it. I remember Laxman telling me when I was batting on day five at Napier, after the first session, as we were walking back, he said, ‘Do you realize you didn’t utter a word for two hours, even between the overs?”’
“And I realized I didn’t. Between overs, all I did was just nod. When I got back, all I did was put on the Hanuman Chalisa and got back into my zone. For two-and-a-half days, it was as if I was completely zoned out,” Gambhir added.
Gambhir batted for nearly two days and half a session for his 136. He faced 436 balls and the duration of his innings was 10 hours and 43 minutes. He shared a 133-run stand for the second wicket with Rahul Dravid, 97 for the third wicket with Sachin Tendulkar and 96 for the fourth wicket with VVS Laxman.
It was about saving India from the ignominy of an innings defeat after New Zealand, having piled 600 plus first innings total, enforced a follow-on India. The visitor had managed 305 in their first innings.
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