India head coach Gautam Gambhir revealed that Virat Kohli chanted ‘Om Namah Shivay’ before facing every delivery during his knock at Perth Stadium against Australia. During a video posted by the bcci.tv, Kohli asked Gambhir about the moments from India-Australia series and his special double hundred at the homeground. However, Gambhir recalled Kohli’s resilience a decade ago and compared it with his marathon knock at Napier against New Zealand.
“Let’s talk about a few moments in India-Australia series. I guess the more special one for you would be your double hundred in your homeground. I won’t talk about the elbow because I can understand why the elbow would have happened. But I want to talk about the mindset in that particular innings. What keeps you grounded and anchored?” Kohli asked Gambhir.
“It is a great question. It is a really important thing. Rather than talking about me, 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 very delivery 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,” Gambhir responded.
“But the only thing that I did throughout those two and a half days was sing Hanuman Chalisa. You getting into that zone before facing every delivery was chanting ‘Om namah shivay’. For me, it was Hanuman Chalisa. When I talk about being in that zone, the reason I say that is very few times in your career you can actually be in that zone. It is divine to be in that zone,” he added.
Gambhir remembers being in the zone
Gambhir also recalled that his teammate VVS Laxman told him while backing back to the dressing room that he did not utter a single word in the whole session. He also added that he never got into that zone for the rest of his career.
“I remember Laxman telling me when I was batting on Day 5 at Napier. After that first session we were walking back and he told be that ‘do you even realise you haven’t uttered a word for two hours?’. Actually I realised that all I did between the overs was nod. When I got back all I did was Hanuman Chalisa and got back into that zone. It was as if I was completely zoned out 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. Until and unless you have experienced that, you will never be able to understand what it is to be in that zone,” Gambhir said while lauding Kohli.
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