The BCCI released a special interaction between Gautam Gambhir and Virat Kohli on September 18, Wednesday, where both the legendary cricketers talked about their careers and mindset. The interview took place ahead of the Test series against Bangladesh.
Virat Kohli And Gautam Gambhir Putting An End To All The Controversies
Notably, Gambhir and Kohli have been known for their fierce competitiveness on the cricket field in the past, with the two even having confrontations during the Indian Premier League (IPL).
However, ever since Gautam Gambhir took on the role of coaching the Indian cricket team, the two have put aside all their differences for the benefit of the team. Both the players got involved in a heated battle with each other, which made headlines. But in the teaser, Virat can be seen saying that the duo is putting an end to the masala.
Virat Kohli – “Here we are together, putting an end to all the masala and spice.”
Gautam Gambhir – “That’s a great start to a conversation.”
Virat Kohli – here we are together, putting an end to all the masala and spice 😂🤌
Gautam Gambhir – that's a great start to a conversation. pic.twitter.com/xiruWT49W6
— Virat Kohli Fan Club (@Trend_VKohli) September 18, 2024
Virat Kohli And Gautam Gambhir On Divine Interventions
During the conversation, both the legends discussed how divine interventions helped them brave pressure situations and play some memorable knocks, especially in the longest format of the game. Gautam 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.
Virat 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.
Gambhir added: “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.”
Virat Kohli Asks Gautam Gambhir About On-Field Altercations
Gambhir and Kohli have had some famous altercations on the field, particularly in the IPL. However, as the two share the dressing room as coaches and players in the team, the BCCI decided to put an end to the rumors through an interview, for the first time. The conversation went like this:
Virat Kohli: “When you are batting and you have a bit of a chat with the opposition, did you ever feel like this might carry on to you going out of the zone and potentially getting out, or it put you in a more motivated state?”
Gautam Gambhir: “You have had more altercations than I have. I think you can answer that question, better than I can.”
Virat Kohli (laughing): “Main to ye dhund raha hun ki koi meri baat se agree kar jaye. Ye nahi bol raha ki galat hai. Koi to bole haan, yahi hota hai” (I am only looking for someone who agrees with what I have to say. Not saying that it is wrong. At least someone should say, yes this is what happens).
Gambhir on his dreadful dismissal in ODI World Cup 2011
During the conversation, Gambhir also talked about how to plan a perfect run-chase and in the process brought forward his famous dismissal from the 2011 ODI World Cup final. Gautam Gambhir revealed that the position of being at 97 got to him and from thinking about chasing down the score his mind was pervaded by the thoughts of crossing the milestone that was in front of him.
“The reason why I played that shot because before that short I was only thinking about what I need what we needed to Chase and the moment you reach 97 and then you start thinking I’m just one shot away from getting my own Milestone and how am I going to celebrate whether I’m going to celebrate like this, first Indian to score 100 in the World Cup final.”
Gautam Gambhir further stated that when he was dismissed the disappointment wasn’t of missing the 100 on the biggest occasion. He added:
“The disappointment was not missing out on 100 the disappointment was giving the opposition a breather imagine getting the opposition back in the game. So I feel that these are small small things which the Next Generation has to think from a point of view that how important it is to stay in the present because all you can control in cricket is that moment that one particular contest. What has happened has happened what’s going to happen has not happened has yet so for me, I think if and that is also mental toughness if you can do that I think that is also one way of being in that zone.”
Gambhir hailed Kohli for his iconic knock against Pakistan
In one of the clip’s segments, the coach referred to Kohli’s brilliant 183 against their arch-rivals in the Asia Cup.
“I saw you make your debut, play that very important knock in the Champions Trophy in South Africa on a tricky wicket against the West Indies, and then playing probably the best one-day innings that has been played by an Indian batter, and I have said this before,” Gambhir added.
Virat Kohli was on fire in Mirpur during the match against Pakistan on March 18, 2012. After Gautam Gambhir fell early, the young Kohli took charge and expertly led India to a successful chase.
Talking about the quality of that knock, Gambhir said, “Not purely from a point of view because guys have scored double hundreds as well, it is the best innings I have ever seen because of the quality of the opposition, the conditions, chasing 300-plus against Pakistan.”
ALSO READ: Are We Entering A New Men’s Tennis Era After The Big 3 Djokovic, Nadal, and Federer?
