Watch: Gautam Gambhir seeks blessings at Mahakaleshwar Temple ahead of IND vs NZ 3rd ODI

Team India head coach Gautam Gambhir paid a visit to the renowned Mahakaleshwar Temple in Ujjain on Friday ahead of the IND vs NZ 3rd ODI. Gambhir attended the Bhasma Aarti and offered prayers at one of the twelve Jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva, according to media reports. Several videos of him at the temple are surfacing on social media platforms.

The former India cricketer expressed his satisfaction about the arrangements made for devotees, and he wishes to come back again soon. "The arrangements were great, and the darshan was smooth, and I am confident that I will return soon," the India head coach said after offering prayers.

Gambhir's visit to Mahakaleshwar Temple was ahead of the third match of the ongoing three-match ODI series. Team India started the series on a positive note but could not hold the momentum and lost the very next match. As a result, before the third match of the contest, the scoreline is 1-1. The winner of the last match will claim the series. The next match will be played on January 18 at the Holkar Stadium in Indore.

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Watch Gautam Gambhir at the Mahakaleshwar temple

In the previous match in Rajkot, India put up a competitive total of 284 for 7 wickets in 50 overs, batting first. KL Rahul's elegant century helped the team to secure the total on the scoreboard. New Zealand won the match by 7 wickets with 15 balls to spare. 

Daryl Mitchell remained unbeaten for 131 runs off 117 balls. Will Young's well-composed 87 also helped the visiting team to claim the win for them. For the final match of the series, the Indian team management is expected to make some changes in the bowling attack. After the conclusion of the ODI series, India will play a T20I series as well with the Blackcaps.