Top 5 moments from the Virat Kohli-Gautam Gambhir interaction
Indian cricket fans were in for a pleasant surprise on Wednesday, September 18 as the BCCI shared a video of a heartwarming interaction between new head coach Gautam Gambhir and senior batter Virat Kohli on their official website. The clip was posted in the build-up to the India vs Bangladesh Test series.
India are all set to take on Bangladesh in two home Tests. The first match will be played in Chennai from September 19 to September 23, while the second Test will be held n Kanpur from September 27 to October 1. The series will mark Gambhir's first red-ball assignment as India's head coach, while Kohli is also making a comeback to the format after missing the five-match home series against England.
In a detailed chat ahead of the series, Kohli and Gambhir shared their views on a number of topics - from aggression to significance of Test cricket and what it means to be in the zone as a batter. Here are top five moments from the Kohli-Gambhir interaction.
#1 "Putting an end to all the masala and all the spice"
Over the years, Kohli and Gambhir have had their ugly moments on and off the cricket field. The two had an altercation during the IPL 2013 season. A decade later, they were involved in another shocking face-off after a match between Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) and Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB).
The two cricket stars, however, ended their so-called rivalry with a hug during IPL 2024. Later, at an event, Kohli took a playful dig at fans who keep raking up controversies. The interaction between Kohli and Gambhir also began in a rather quirky manner. Very early in the clip, the former is heard saying:
"Here we are, we have come a long way, and putting an end to all the masala and all the spice. Gauti bhai, we have come a long way from playing together for a long time."
Delhi boys Gambhir and Kohli were part of India's victorious ODI World Cup campaign in 2011 and shared a crucial 83-run stand in the final against Sri Lanka.
#2 "You had more altercations than I did" - Gambhir and Kohli's funny exchange on sledging
Like Kohli, Gambhir was also known for his highly aggressive nature on the cricket field. He did not mind having a few words with the opposition bowlers and fielders. When asked about how sledging impacted his game, Gambhir came up with a rather cheeky response and commented:
“You had more altercations than I did. I think you can answer this question better that I can."
Kohli joined the fun and replied:
"Main to yeh dhundh raha hu koi meri baat se agree kar jaaye. (I was searching for someone to agree with me). Main yeh nahi bol raha ki galat hai. Koi to bole haan yehi hota hai. (I am not saying it’s wrong, at least someone should say that yes, it happens)."
The former India captain also admitted that he sometimes enjoyed the banter as it brought out the best in him.
#3 How 'Om Namah Shivay' and 'Hanuman Chalisa' put Kohli and Gambhir in the zone
During the interaction, Gambhir recalled how Kohli kept chanting 'Om Namah Shivay' before every delivery on the 2014-15 Australia tour. He then went on reveal a similar experience and stated that listening to 'Hanuman Chalisa' helped him significantly during his marathon knock in the Napier Test of 2009.
"When you (Kohli) had that bumper series in Australia where you scored heaps and heaps of runs, you were telling me that you kept saying 'Om Namah Shivay' before every delivery, and that got you in that zone," Gambhir recalled.
"For me, it was exactly the same when I played in Napier. If I look back, can I bat for another two and a half days? I don't think I could have ever done that again. The only thing I did throughout those two and a half days was listen to Hanuman Chalisa," the Indian coach went on to add.
Kohli amassed 692 runs from eight innings during India's tour of Australia in 2014-15. As for Gambhir, he scored 137 off 436 balls (643 minutes) against New Zealand in Napier in 2009 to help India draw a Test.
#4 "Subah bheege badam khate ho ki nahi?" - Gambhir and Kohli pull Rohit's leg over his forgetful nature
It is no secret that India's Test and ODI captain Rohit Sharma is known for his hilariously forgetful nature. Towards the end of their interaction, Kohli and Gambhir took some time out to pull the skipper's leg. The Indian coach asked Kohli what he should ask Rohit, who would be his next guest. This led to quite a funny exchange between the two, which went as follows:
Gambhir: So Virat, the next guest is Rohit. What do you want me to ask? What should be the first question to Rohit?
Kohli: "I think it's a very simple question for Rohit. Subah bheege badam khate ho ki nahi? (Do you eat soaked almonds in the morning?)
Gambhir: Subah gyarah baje ki jagah raat ko 12 baje aa rahe ho? (Are you coming in the night at 12 instead of morning?)
Kohli: AM ki jagah PM na ho jaaye (Hope it doesn't become PM instead of AM). So Rohit, that will be the question for you.
Both Kohli and Gambhir had quite a hearty laugh at the expense of Rohit!
#5 In-depth discussion on Test cricket
During the interaction, which had many shades, both Kohli and Gambhir agreed that Test cricket remains the ultimate format of the sport. Kohli recalled the time when he took over red-ball captaincy from MS Dhoni and commented:
"The thing that excited me about Test cricket and when I had the chance to lead the Test side, was the challenge. We were transitioning then, when you guys had made way for a younger team, and Mahi bhai had left captaincy. For me it was like, I am 25 and I have this team of 24-25 year olds, and how do we become a team that become household names like you guys became."
Gambhir chipped in and added that Test cricket is the best format to judge a player's personality and how he can deliver the goods under pressure.
"The best format in cricket, if you want to judge someone's personality and character, is push him in Test cricket, and you will get to know everything about him. If we can build a culture where people come in and say that this is the priority, then that is it," the Indian head coach said.
Speaking of red-ball cricket, India have plenty lined-up. After the series against Bangladesh, they will host New Zealand for three Tests. India will then fly to Australia for the five-match Border-Gavaskar Trophy and will also play five Tests in England in 2025.