Hanuman Chalisa, Om Nama Shivaya: Virat Kohli and Gautam Gambhir reveal how devotion provides them Strength

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Virat Kohli and Gautam Gambhir sat together for a candid interview with each other. The two stalwarts of Indian cricket are now in close cahoots at the centre. Gambhir is the head coach of the Indian team whereas Virat Kohli still going strong in Test and ODI formats.

After their much-debated differences, the players have shrugged off the distance and are looking as fresh as a daisy. Ahead of the Bangladesh Tests, the duo sat for an interview reminiscing about their cricket career and spoke at length about the current scenario of Indian cricket.

Both Gambhir and Kohli have played some outstanding knocks over the years. Kohli asked Gambhir about a double hundred that he scored and asked how the southpaw remained focused during the innings. And in reply to that, Gambhir opened up on the strength that both he and Kohli have received from devotion and chanting mantras.

The India coach said that Kohli used to say Om Nama Shivaya before every ball during the Australia series in 2012.

"It's a really important thing. For me, I think 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 Namo Shivaya before every delivery. And that got you in that zone," Gambhir said.

Gambhir then cited his own example during an innings in Napier against New Zealand. The southpaw played a herculean knock in 2009 against the Black Caps, scoring 137 runs in 436 deliveries. His gutsy knock helped India to save the Test match after getting followed on in the first innings. And the former player says it was 'Hanuman Chalisa' which kept him going on those days.

"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 never done that again. But the only thing I did throughout those two and a half days was listening to Hanuman Chalisa. So for you, getting into that zone before every delivery was chanting Om Namo Shivaya. For me, listening to Hanuman Chalisa got me in that zone. When I talk about being in that zone, the reason I say that is that very few times in your career, you can actually be in that zone. And it's divine to be in that zone because only you can experience," the India coach added.

It will be a massive series for Virat Kohli as India play a two-match Test series against Bangladesh. Gautam Gambhir would also have a big challenge as he makes his debut as India coach in the longest format of the game.