Virat Kohli has brought the fitness culture in Indian cricket.
Kohli has often attributed his success with the willow to his intense fitness regime. However, in order to attain supreme fitness levels, the 34-year-old has had to make some serious changes to his eating habits and lifestyle.
In a chat with Harsha Bhogle for Cricbuzz, veteran India wicketkeeper Dinesh Karthik also pointed out that Virat was not always this particular about his fitness.
Karthik also added that Kohli was a foodie but he restrained himself to become the cricketer and role model that he is today.
“Number one and the first word that I will put is discipline. Second thing, fitness is not about just and only hitting the gym or running. It is a lifestyle. So what you put into your mouth is as important as the amount of workouts and running you do and that is where Virat Kohli is brilliant. He was a foodie, he used to enjoy all sorts of fatty foods, sweets, just like all of us," Karthik said.
“But he put a massive cut on all of that so that he can become the cricketer he wants to be and that’s the sacrifice you need to make. Have a look at the bigger picture and say if that is what I want to be in 5-10 years’ time, I need to cut down on certain things in my life that I am doing right now. That’s the decision he’s taken and you can see the results that have followed," he added.
Karthik lauded Kohli for following his fitness and diet schedule keenly even during tough times.
“It is a great case of not giving up because when he’s had his bad run, things weren’t going his way, the one thing he consistently kept doing is training and eating well. So there are many moments during that when his mind says it’s okay, do something that you’ve probably liked before, stay happy. But he has given up on that, sacrificed on that, hoping that one day it will come to use and these are the kind of days when he’s batting on 130, 140, needs to take that quick single," Karthik said.
In the past, Virat Kohli has himself acknowledged that he wasn't always this dedicated towards fitness. During his initial years in international cricket, he was not aware of how to take proper care of his body and was developing certain bad habits. However, things changed once he himself realized that he needs to get his act right.
“My training was horrible, I ate so bad, I was up until late, I was having a drink or two regularly. It was a horrible mindset… It was 11 or 12kgs heavier than I am now, I was really chubby. I changed everything from the next morning from what I eat to how I train. I was in the gym for an hour-and-a-half every day. Working really hard, off gluten, off wheat, no cold drinks, no desserts, nothing. It was tough. For the first two months I felt I wanted to eat the bed sheet when I went to sleep because I was so hungry. I was craving taste. I was craving delicious food. But then I saw the results," Kohli said in an interview with The Telegraph in 2016.