On the eve of the first T20I in Kolkata, Indian head coach Gautam Gambhir visited the Kalighat Temple, seeking blessings from the Goddess. The video went viral as he was seen entering the altar room as the priest passed him flowers chanting hymns. Later, he was seen touching the idol and performing aarti. Watch the video here: VIDEO | Team India head coach Gautam Gambhir (@GautamGambhir) offers prayers at Kalighat Temple, #Kolkata.India will play against England in the first match of the T20 series at Eden Gardens, Kolkata, tomorrow. Beginning with the Eden T20I, the two teams will fight it out in a… pic.twitter.com/frPanegCyJ — Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) January 21, 2025 Gambhir has visited Kalighat Temple before also, as he had a long-cherished linkage with the city due to his ties with Kolkata Knight Riders both as a captain and a mentor. During his cricketing career, he served as the captain of the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the Indian Premier League (IPL) from 2011 to 2017, steering the team to two iconic championship victories. In 2024, he made a triumphant return as the head coach, leading KKR to their third IPL title. His bond with the city goes beyond the boundaries of cricket, as he frequently takes opportunities like this to connect with its rich cultural and spiritual essence, especially ahead of significant tours. Read also: Free metro ride for ticket holders! Tamil Nadu Cricket announces unique service for fans Shami returns, adds hopes to the team The young brigade of the Indian team led by Surya Kumar Yadav is all set to play the first T20I against England at Kolkata on January 22. Following that, India will play four more T20I matches. After that, they will prepare for the Champions Trophy 2025 with the three-match ODI series against England. The series will mark Mohammad Shami's return to international cricket after the ODI 2023 World Cup. Shami, who last played in the ODI World Cup final against Australia in November 2023, had been sidelined for several months due to a heel injury that required surgery. He marked his competitive comeback in the Ranji Trophy for Bengal towards the end of last year, displaying encouraging progress in his recovery. His inclusion in the squad adds valuable experience and stability to India's bowling attack.