Shanker Basu, RCB trainer feels that captain Virat Kohli has utilized the COVID-19 forced break positively and has come back much fitter and in better shape, as the franchise prepares for the upcoming IPL 2020 which begins from September 19.
Kohli was stuck in Mumbai for five months due to the coronavirus-enforced lockdown and had his first proper net session only after his arrival in the UAE for the Indian Premier League (IPL 13).
"He (Kohli) has come back in much better shape. He is at his best weight at the moment and his movement patterns are pretty much in sync with his best self in the past," former India trainer Shanker Basu, who is now the strength and conditioning coach of Royal Challengers Bangalore, told PTI from Dubai.
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"He has taken this break as an opportunity to work on all the pointers which needed attention from a physical point. I guess his motto to life is 'Bear the cross and wear the crown'," Basu further said.
Basu further pointed out that Kohli got the time to do things other than fitness which an international cricketer finds it difficult to do. "He had the time to be very specific with his meal plans and running intervals at home. He did not have much of a choice during the lockdown and he invested on a treadmill and worked on his endurance which is otherwise not possible during a packed calendar,” he said.
"For ground reaction forces every now and then, he did shuttle running in his apartment which had a little space. With all these constraints the attitude stood out more than the workout. Apart from that, his customized strength work to complement that was his mantra during the lockout. So a combination of running and strength work and he kept it simple by just following this to the T," said Basu.
Basu also gave an update on the RCB players who have been doing outdoor training for only a week since landing in UAE and completing the mandatory quarantine period.
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"Since most of them have arrived in decent shape physically it's only a matter of time they are match ready. With regards to assessing a player's fitness - most of the workouts are a test in itself. As a coach, we have to be prudent that they tick the right boxes and drills which can be an assessment," he said.
"The coaching director (Mike Hesson) and the head coach (Simon Katich) and the entire support group are aware of a long layoff and ergo the planning with regards to the length of practice times, humidity, temperature, and recovery is something we have worked as a team. There is no foolproof algorithm for it but a sensible approach is what we are treading on,” Basu added.
Basu said the pacers' workload will be carefully monitored over the course of the IPL.
"Our bowling coach (Adam Griffith) has come with a specific plan pertaining to loads in the first 2 weeks and that will be used as a blueprint. The players have done a lot of fitness work and complimenting the skills and choosing the right exercises to get the balance will provide the much-needed impetus for every bowler," Basu said.
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"Almost everyone had access to the gym (at least in the home setting), so that will not worry us at all," he said.
He also mentioned that the players are getting customized to the heat in the UAE and felt that proper recovery and diet will be the way forward for the players to stay in top shape.
"The modern cricketers are very mindful of their meal plans. Hydration, balanced amount of protein, carbs, and good fat will do the trick and to combat the heat - again we have our wellness and load monitoring system which will be put to good use," said Basu
(PTI inputs)
