Hanuman Chalisa & Om Namah Shivay chants: Gautam Gambhir reveals mantra behind his and Virat Kohli's historic performances

India National Cricket Team head coach Gautam Gambhir talked about his famous 137-run knock against New Zealand in Napier during the 2009 tour. He mentioned that he was in the zone and was listening to Hanuman Chalisa on the last two days of the game.

India head coach Gautam Gambhir, during his playing days, did a lot of remarkable things for the national team. He was one of the finest top-order batters to have played for the team across all three formats, as he helped win many famous games in his career.

One of the highlights of Gautam Gambhir's career was his marathon innings of 137 runs against New Zealand in Napier. The opening batter batted for 436 balls and made sure that he helped his team draw the game. India was down and dusted in the game, and they had two days to save, with a win in favor of the hosts.

However, Gautam Gambhir came up with a gigantic effort for his team. He scored one of the best tons by an Indian opener and helped the team etch the famous draw. His innings still stand fresh in the minds of many fans and are also rated very highly in Indian cricket.

Gautam Gambhir, while talking about his innings at Napier, stated that when he looks back at that knock, he feels he couldn't have batted for two and a half days. But he kept listening to the Hanuman Chalisa during those days. Speaking to Virat Kohli in a video shared by BCCI, he said:

"If I look back can I bat for another two and half days I don’t think I could have ever done that but the only thing I did for those two days was listen to Hanuman Chalisa,”

Gautam Gambhir also revealed that Virat Kohli kept saying Om Namah Shivay during the Australia tour in 2014. He mentioned that this got better in the zone, and he also felt the same during the Napier Test.

"You kept telling me you were saying Om Namah Shivay before every delivery, and that got you in that zone, and for me, it was the same when I played in Napier."

It was like I was completely zoned out - Gautam Gambhir

Gautam Gambhir, further talking about his innings at Napier, stated that during that innings, VVS Laxman told him that he didn't say a single word between the overs. He admitted that he had never been in that zone ever in his life after that. He elaborated:

“When I talk about being in that zone, the reason I say that is because very few times in your career you can be in that zone. It’s divine to be in that zone only you can experience.

"I remember [VVS] Laxman asked me do you even realize you did not utter a word for two hours, even between the overs. It was like I was completely zoned out and I have never been in that zone ever in my life after that.”

After having great success as a player for the India National Cricket Team, Gambhir would now be hoping to carry that same as a coach. His first assignment in the longest format will be the two-match Test series against Bangladesh, beginning 19th September.