Former India cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar has advised India and Chennai Super Kings (CSK) batter-keeper Sanju Samson to improve his fitness in order to sustain in the long run. He even asked Samson to emulate Virat Kohli, when it comes to maintaining peak fitness levels.

For the right-handed batter, 2026 has been absolutely outstanding. Samson started his career with the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) with two hundreds after winning Player of the Tournament in India's T20 World Cup 2026 campaign.

But as Samson keeps getting better, Manjrekar advised him to follow Virat Kohli's lead and focus on his fitness to maintain optimal health over the coming years.

The former Indian batter claimed that Suryakumar's decline in T20 cricket was due to his poor physical condition. At that point, he turned his attention to Samson and advised the Keralan batsman to follow in Kohli's footsteps.

According to Manjrekar, everyone must follow Kohli's lead in order to have a proper lifespan in a sport that is always evolving. Fitness is one controllable factor.

“I'm saying that about Sanju Samson as well, who's also not a 25-year-old because he's hit the peak of his achievements, just to sustain it. He could also do the same thing, because I see him also not being in peak physical condition. When you have a great example, like Virat Kohli, who has had such a long career.

You know, just because he's given fitness so much importance. He's had tremendous skills, but he's made sure that the body doesn't let him down. Because that's the one you can control,” Manjrekar said on Sportstar's Insight Edge Podcast.

Samson was in top form for CSK against DC in their recent IPL 2026 game. He hammered 87* and shouldered CSK’s chase of 155 runs in Delhi, ensuring the team won by 8 wickets.

Samson has 402 runs in 10 games at a strike rate of 167.50, along with two centuries and one fifty and the highest score of 115*.