Virat Kohli’s coach Rajkumar Sharma gave a very candid interview CricketNext.com (some time ago) and spoke on variety of issues relating to Kohli and his change in attitude about fitness and his lifestyle.
Rajkumar Sharma recalled days when Virat Kohli had a big appetite for butter chicken and rolls but as his international career progressed, he improved his eating habits and became a clean eater. Rajkumar also said that he is very proud of what Virat Kohli has achieved and his dedication has become a benchmark for young cricketers, not only in India, but across the world.
Here are some excerpts from Rajkumar Sharma’s interview to CricketNext.com:
“Kohli once told me, if I don’t set the benchmark as captain, who else will? Even as the world looks on in wonder, I know the boy behind the man. He used to gorge on butter chicken, rolls and all sorts of fast food. But today, it finds no place in his diet.
“In fact, he is so particular about his diet, that even when he comes over to my place, he won’t have packaged juices. You either give him fresh fruit juice or you don’t. Carbs are a strict no-no and there are no binge days in his routine anymore,” he revealed.
“See, it is easy to do these things for a short or particular span of time. But to make it a constant routine and life style is what makes me proud. The kind of sacrifices he has made at this young age is something that even we can’t at our age.
“It takes a lot of devotion and focus to restructure your lifestyle to this extent. He has cut down on carbs and doesn’t even have rotis now. It is either grilled or boiled food for him. Even his coffee is without sugar and definitely no packaged juices for him,” he said.
“In the last two or three years, he has taken fitness and his eating habits to a different level. He takes it so seriously that he got a gym built in his new house. He has this belief that fitness is very important if you have to succeed in international cricket. And his only goal in life is to keep raising the bar,” he said.
“Talent was never a problem with Kohli, but then, the effect of the gruelling fitness regime is that he has more stamina and can keep picking the singles and doubles and turn the singles into doubles. He doesn’t tire down and hence the need to play risky shots go out of the equation. Whatever be his work schedule or travel scene, he always finds time to hit the gym,” Rajkumar Sharma signed off.
NOTE: This post was edited on 4th September 2017
