Virat Kohli's Powerful ‘Om Namah Shivay’ Chanting Before...Gautam Gambhir's Surprising Revelation

New Delhi: The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) shared a casual chat between India head coach Gautam Gambhir and star batter Virat Kohli on BCCI TV. In the interaction, Kohli initiated the conversation by inquiring about Gambhir's memorable double hundred against Australia in a Test match in Delhi back in 2008. Gambhir shared insights on his mindset and motivation during that remarkable knock.

“Let’s talk about a few moments in the India-Australia series. The most special one will be the double hundred in our home. I won’t talk about the elbow, because I guess I know why the elbow would have happened (Gambhir elbowing Shane Watson). I want to talk about the mindset of the innings. What keeps you grounded and anchored?” Kohli quizzed.

While answering a question that Kohli posed to Gambhir, the ex-India opener recalled what Kohli had told him after an incredible run with the bat during India’s Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia in 2014. Kohli top-scored for India in that series, scoring 692 runs and Gambhir recalled Kohli telling him that he chanted ‘Om Namah Shivay’ before every ball he faced in that series.

“I remember when you 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. For me, that’s exactly what happened when I played in Napier. I batted for 2-and-half days,” Gambhir responded.

When an unstoppable force meets an immovable object—cricket’s greatest paradox, personified!

Presenting an iconic interaction between #TeamIndia Head Coach @GautamGambhir & the legendary @imVkohli – By @RajalArora & @Moulinparikh#INDvBAN | @IDFCFIRSTBank

— BCCI (@BCCI) September 18, 2024

Gambhir then talked about his iconic knock in Napier where batted for 643 minutes to ensure India was able to save the Test match. The southpaw said that he would listen to the Hanuman Chalisa during that innings.

“I don’t think I could have ever done that again. The only thing I did for those 2-and-a-half days was listen to Hanuman Chalisa. For me, getting into that zone, you got there by chanting Om Namah Shivay, for me, I got into that zone by listening to Hanuman Chalisa. When I talk about being in that zone, very few times in your career, you can be in that zone. It’s divine to be in that zone.”

“I remember Laxman telling me when I was batting on Day 5 in Napier. After that first session, when I was walking back, he told me ‘Do you realise you have not uttered a word for the last two hours, even between overs’. I realised that I did not say a word. All I did between overs was nod and play, and when I got back, I put on Hanuman Chalisa and listened to it. For those two-and-half-days, it was like completely zoned out. I am sure you must have experienced many more times than I did. Unless and until you are in that zone, you won’t understand how it feels.”