'You've had more altercations than I have': Gautam Gambhir leaves Virat Kohli in splits during interview ahead of IND vs BAN 1st Test

Gautam Gambhir and Virat Kohli during a conversation (Screengrab: BCCI, X)
Gautam Gambhir and Virat Kohli during a conversation (Screengrab: BCCI, X)

Highlights:

Virat Kohli asked Gautam Gambhir if he loses focus after a heated exchange while batting.

Gambhir's answer to Kohli's question left the latter in splits.

Virat Kohli-Gautam Gambhir Interview: Two Delhi boys -- Virat Kohli and Gautam Gambhir -- who have been teammates and helped India win the ODI World Cup 2011, sat down for a conversation ahead of the Test series against Bangladesh. The two have been known for not holding back against the opposition whether it is with bat or with heated exchanges. But they’ve been known for their resilience as well, playing long knocks in red-ball cricket. Current head coach Gambhir recalled India’s tour of Australia in 2014 when Kohli was tested in pace-friendly conditions but eventually dominated. During the freewheeling conversation, Kohli asked Gambhir whether he gets distracted by heated exchanges with opposition while batting to which the latter had a hilarious answer.
 

“I remember when you had that bumper series in Australia where you scored heaps and heaps of runs and that got you in that zone. And for me, it was exactly the same when I played in Napier. And if I look back, can I bat for another two and a half days? (137 off 436 balls) I don't think so. I could have ever done that again and I have never been in that zone ever in my life after that. So I can imagine ho good that feeling is to be in that zone. And I’m sure you must have experienced this many more times as compared to what I have,” Gambhir said in a teaser of the interview posted by bcci.tv.

“But when you're 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 you potentially getting out or it put you in a more motivated space?” asked Kohli. 
 

“You've had more altercations than I have. I think you can answer than question better than I can,” Gambhir replied as both started laughing. 

 

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“Main to ye dhoond raha hoon koi meri baat se agree kar le. Main ye nahi bol raha ki ye galat hai. Me keh raha hu koi to bole, haan yahi hota hai (I am just looking for validation. I am not saying that its wrong. I want someone to say "yes, that is the right way"), Kohli said while trying to control his laughter. 

 

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Kohli’s return to red-ball cricket

Kohli is set to make his comeback to Test cricket after more than nine months. He missed the home Test series against England due to personal reasons.
 

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