Indian cricket team captain, Virat Kohli, in a candid chat with Sunil Chhetri, has explained the importance of diet in his regular life, and the inspiration who changed him for good.
Kohli, who gave up Indian breads and gravy-laden curries years ago, is known for his strict regime, and he says that everything he has learned in the context has come from the former Head Strength and Conditioning Coach of the Indian cricket team, Shanker Basu.
“It (diet) is everything for me,” said the skipper.
“Yes, you put in the work, but there’s always someone who pushes you from behind. And for me, it was Mr Shanker Basu (the man behind the fitness success). He was the one, who in 2015, introduced me to lifting.
"Everything was new to me back then and thus, I was hesitant. He told me to just trust him. And as I started doing it, within three weeks, the results came, and I saw the changes myself. After that, he told me about the diet, and eventually, I started feeling attention to what’s going inside the body.”
Kohli is someone who’s rather portrayed an aggressor. But his teammates say that their skipper is equally soft once the game ends. Speaking about it, the 31-year-old said he is only doing what his job demands.
“I’m doing what my job requires me to do. There’s nothing to show off. If I want to be the best version of myself, I need to keep this going. I’m just thankful to the opportunity that I have in my life. You see, if I can’t give my 100% when I’m on the field, I’d feel I’m not being honest to the sport and to myself.
"And that is just the way of giving my 100%. It’s not just about batting, it’s about every single ball which is played."
Feature image courtesy: AFP / Punit Paranjpe
