New Delhi: On Wednesday, the BCCI released a preview of a ‘never-seen-before’ heartwarming chat between former India captain Virat Kohli and head coach Gautam Gambhir, which sparked widespread interest on the internet. The two have teamed up to ‘celebrate their camaraderie’ and put an end to all the masala surrounding their long-rumoured feud.
Kohli and Gambhir, who have played together for Team India in various forms, have had some legendary on-field clashes in the past, particularly during the Indian Premier League (IPL), which grabbed headlines. However, the duo are extending an olive branch, which is good news for India’s cricket team.
BCCI shared the teaser of an interview on X with a caption, “A Very Special Interview. Stay tuned for a deep insight on how great cricketing minds operate. TeamIndia’s Head Coach @GautamGambhir and @imVkohli come together in a never-seen-before freewheeling chat.”
Now that the two share the dressing room as coach and player in the Indian team, they have moved past old feuds. In the one-minute, 40-second video clip, which racked up over 185,000 views, Virat said, ‘We have come a long way to put an end to all the masala,’ a statement that reflects their mutual respect.
Gambhir burst into laughter and added, “That’s a good start to the conversation.”
In a video, Kohli and Gambhir discuss their on-field altercations with opposing players over the years, including heated arguments and physical confrontations that have often made headlines.
Kohli asked Gambhir about the zone he goes into whenever he gets involved in an altercation with a player on the field. In cricket, the ‘zone’ refers to a mental state where a player is completely focused and performing at their best. “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?” Kohli asked Gambhir.
The India head coach replied cheekily, “You have had more altercations than I have. I think you can answer that question better than I can.”
“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 just looking for validation. I am not saying that it is wrong. I want someone to say, ‘Yes, this is what happens’,” Virat replied with a laugh.
Gambhir also lauded Kohli’s outstanding batting performance in the 2014-15 Border-Gavaskar Trophy. “I remember when you had that bumper series in Australia where you scored heaps and heaps of runs, and that got you in touch 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? 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 how good that feeling is to be in that zone. And I’m sure you must have experienced this many more times than I have,” Gambhir said.
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–IANS
Photo Credit: BCCI/ Videograb
