During the recently concluded Test series against West Indies, the Indian cricket team’s success in the World Test Championship (WTC) cycle was celebrated, but amidst the excitement, an intriguing revelation surfaced. Ishant Sharma, the seasoned Indian pacer, shared a captivating anecdote involving two prominent cricket personalities, Virat Kohli and Zaheer Khan, during a New Zealand tour in early 2014.
The incident occurred in the second Test, which coincidentally was the final match of the tour. New Zealand skipper Brendon McCullum was displaying his formidable batting prowess. Virat Kohli, renowned for his exceptional fielding, had an opportunity to dismiss McCullum but failed to hold on to a catch, offering the Kiwi batsman a lucky reprieve.
Regretting his mistake, Kohli expressed his apologies to Zaheer Khan. Zaheer, known for his composed and supportive demeanour, comforted Kohli, reassuring him that they would eventually get McCullum out.
However, as the Test progressed, Kohli’s apologies persisted, and during one of the tea breaks, he once again voiced his remorse.
Ishant Sharma reveals a memorable incident from the 2014 New Zealand Tour involving Virat Kohli and Zaheer Khan
In a lighthearted tone, Zaheer playfully chided Kohli, stating, “You’ve ended my career!”. During a commentary session on Jio Cinema, Ishant Sharma shared the amusing exchange, and Zaheer Khan confirmed and expanded on the story.
To clarify, Zaheer Khan revealed that he did not actually imply that Kohli’s dropped catch had literally ended his career. Instead, he humorously pointed out a pattern where only two instances of fielders dropping catches led to the batsmen scoring triple centuries.
The first example was Kiran More dropping Graham Gooch, who went on to amass 300 runs, and the second was Kohli’s dropped catch of McCullum, who also went on to achieve a triple ton. McCullum’s breathtaking triple century turned the match around, salvaging a draw for the hosts. He eventually scored 302 runs before getting dismissed by Zaheer, who impressively claimed a five-wicket haul during the same innings.
For India, Ajinkya Rahane and Kohli himself showcased their batting prowess, with Rahane scoring a century in the first innings and Kohli remaining unbeaten on 105 in the second. Ishant Sharma’s revelation provided fans with a fascinating glimpse into the camaraderie and dynamics within the Indian cricket team during crucial moments on the field.
Despite the dropped catch and the subsequent impact on the match, it is evident that the incident was taken in good spirits, reflecting the sportsmanship and mutual respect among the players.
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