Sanju Samson was the Player of the Tournament in India's T20 World Cup 2026 win.
Not only has Virat Kohli changed the way batters approach the game, but he has also revolutionized the way top athletes lead their lives. He lifted the bar for cricket fitness to an unparalleled degree by cutting out gluten from his diet and working out for hours on end.
Even newer players find it difficult to match the Indian icon's discipline, even though it has been more than ten years since he underwent this transformation.
According to Sanju Samson, he had sought lifestyle guidance from Kohli but gave up after a year or so. He recalls being advised to stick to the diet and regimen necessary for playing international cricket, and he appreciated the intensity Kohli brings to the gym.
He acknowledged following Kohli's advice, but he also acknowledged that he quickly became distracted.
"We all know how Virat bhai is. He is very clear and very straightforward with everyone. If you need to do something, he will tell you exactly what is required. The way he carries himself in the gym, there is a different fire in that guy, and I really love that about him. We both were working out together in the gym during an Indian team camp, and I asked him, 'Paaji, what should I do? Tell me something too!" Samson said on JioStar's show Believe.
"He told me that lifestyle plays a huge role. If you want to become an international cricketer, you must maintain a different kind of lifestyle. He shared what works for him on his journey and told me, 'This food will help your body recover; this would not. If you maintain this discipline for the next 10 years, you will have a great career ahead.' I started following it for a year, a year, and a half, but after that, I could not stay on track with that anymore," he added.
In the same interview, Sanju Samson also stated that he had set his mindset on not following the "constant rat race" in Indian cricket before the T20 World Cup 2026. He said that he will continue to play cricket and enjoy the game, but on his own terms.
He added that he will remain grateful for his journey even if things do not align for the 2028 T20 World Cup.
(ANI inputs)