When Deepak Chahar went to bat during the second ODI between India and Sri Lanka, he was nervous, the commentators were already talking about the third match and only a handful of fans had faith that the match was still winnable. 

However, by the time Chahar was done with his innings, the only thing people were talking about was how someone like him transformed himself to look like a legitimate batting option in the India middle order.

But one very specific moment of the match had been making rounds on social media. The newly appointed Indian head coach, Rahul Dravid could be seen visibly panicking and running down the dressing room and to the dugout to talk to the reserve players who were acting as waterboys towards the end of the match.

It was understood that Dravid had some message for Chahar, who was batting exceptionally well as India inched closer and closer towards winning the match and the series. So when Chahar struggled to stand straight and called in medical help to make him survive some excruciating cramps in his hamstrings, the waterboys went on to convey Dravid’s message to him on the field.

Shortly after this moment, Chahar jumped on his two feet and smashed the match-winning boundary to book the series under India’s name with extreme swagger. 

Many wondered what message did Dravid relay to Chahar in the middle of such a tense situation which allowed the latter to calm his nerves and play the innings he was required to. After winning the match, Deepak Chahar reveals Dravid’s exact words:

“No better way to win the match for the country. Rahul sir told me to play all the balls. I've played a few innings with India A and I think he has belief in me. He told me he thinks I'm good enough to be a No. 7. He has belief in me. Hopefully, in the coming matches I don't have to bat,” Chahar said at the post-match presentation ceremony. 

“It was a decent score [to chase] on this wicket. Only one thing that was going on in my mind: this is the kind of innings I've been dreaming of. When we came under 50 is when I believed we can win. Before that, it was ball by ball. I took some risks after,” he concluded.

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