In a lighthearted discussion on JioCinema, Ishant Sharma recounted a memorable incident from the 2014 Wellington Test involving Zaheer Khan, Virat Kohli, and Brendon McCullum. During that match, Kohli dropped a crucial catch of McCullum in the second innings, allowing the New Zealand captain to go on and score an impressive triple century.
Later, in the conversation, Ishant claimed that Zaheer jokingly told Kohli that he had ended his career with that dropped catch, implying it was a significant mistake. However, Zaheer Khan clarified his statement, stating that he did not mean it seriously.
Instead, he recalled two instances from cricket history where catches were dropped, and the batsmen went on to score massive runs. The first instance was when Kiran More dropped Graham Gooch, and Gooch went on to score 300 runs.
The second instance was when Kohli dropped McCullum’s catch, and McCullum scored 300 runs as well. Zaheer shared this in a light-hearted manner, and when Kohli reacted, Zaheer assured him that it was not meant to be taken seriously. Kohli apologized multiple times, and Zaheer’s response was in a jovial tone, just meant for fun.
The Wellington Test was significant as it turned out to be Zaheer Khan’s last match for India. In that game, New Zealand posted a massive total of 680/8 in their second innings, thanks to McCullum’s triple century and centuries from BJ Watling and James Neesham. The Test ended in a draw, and New Zealand clinched the series 1-0.
In essence, the incident was a playful exchange between the players and not a serious claim by Zaheer Khan about Kohli’s career. It showcased the camaraderie and banter that often occurs among teammates during their cricketing careers.
