Kohli had scored 692 runs in four Test matches during the 2014-15 tour of Australia.
India head coach Gautam Gambhir and star batter Virat Kohli on Wednesday (September 18) took the internet by storm with their never-seen-before freewheeling chat.
The interview shared by BCCI on its official social media handle, started with Gambhir recalling key moments in Kohli's career, particularly his remarkable exploits during the Test tour of Australia in 2014-15.
India may have lost that Border-Gavaskar Trophy Down Under by 2-0 margin, but Kohli left a lasting impression on the cricketing world with his dazzling performances. He finished the four-Test series with 692 runs at an average of 86.50, including four hundreds and one half-century.
During the conversation, Gambhir revealed Kohli chanted 'Om Namah Shivay' mantra before every delivery he faced during his dream run in that tour.
Gambhir then drew parallels with his own experience, reminiscing his match-saving Test century during the Napier Test against New Zealand in 2009. The chief coach revealed he was listening to 'Hanuman Chalisa', a devotional hymn during the knock that lasted two-and-half-days.
The conversation was started by Kohli, who asked Gambhir what kept him in the zone during his double hundred against Australia in a Test match in Delhi in 2008.
In response, Gautam Gambhir recalled Virat Kohli's heroics from the 2014-15 Test tour of Australia.
"Let's talk about a few moments in India-Australia series. The most special one will be the double hundred in our home. I won't talk about the elbow, because I guess I know why the elbow would have happened (Gambhir elbowing Shane Watson). I want to talk about the mindset of the innings. What keeps you grounded and anchored?" Kohli questioned.
"Great question. Instead of 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 every delivery. And that got you in that zone. For me, that's exactly what happened when I played in Napier. I batted for 2-and-half days," Gambhir replied.
"I don't think I could have ever done that again. The only thing I did for those 2-and-a-half days was listen to Hanuman Chalisa. For me, getting into that zone, you got there by chanting Om Namah Shivay, for me, I got into that zone by listening to Hanuman Chalisa. When I talk about being in that zone, very few times in your career, you can be in that zone. It's divine to be in that zone.
"I remember Laxman telling me when I was batting on Day 5 in Napier. After that first session, when I was walking back, he told me 'Do you realise you have not uttered a word for the last two hours, even between overs'. I realised that I did not say a word. All I did between overs was nod and play, and when I got back, I put on Hanuman Chalisa and listened to it. For those two-and-half-days, it was like completely zoned out. I am sure you must have experienced many more times than I did. Unless and until you are in that zone, you won't understand how it feels."
During the Australia tour in 2014-15, Virat took over from MS Dhoni as India's Test captain after the former wicketkeeper-batter retired midway through the series.
On the other hand, Gambhir helped India save the 2009 Napier Test match by scoring 137 off 436 balls in the final innings.