Childhood coach Rajkumar Sharma gives credit to fitness trainers and coaches for Virat Kohli's success

Indian captain Virat Kohli is one of the few fitness freaks in international cricket. His physical transformation from a chubbier boy to a herculean cricketer left world cricket in awe. But, to keep himself fit and at the best of his physical state he had to sacrifice his beloved foods. His childhood coach Rajkumar Sharma recollected the days when butter chicken, Kathi rolls and mutton rolls would be Indian skipper’s staple diet.

Rajkumar said that athletes and pundits across the world admire Kohli’s work ethics and fitness regime. He believed his sacrifices have helped the Delhi dasher reach the pinnacle. He has the hunger to set the benchmark while leading a young team and wants to be an example for them to follow.

“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,” Sharma was quoted as saying by cricketnext.

“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.

But Rajkumar believed it was Kohli’s dedication more than his diet and the fitness regime that made him an outstanding sprinter on the field.

“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,” the coach added.

“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.

Fitness trainers and coaches at Indian team responsible for Kohli’s success

When asked about his transformation from a talented youngster to a run-machine, Rajkumar didn’t credit himself, instead, he believed coaches and trainers who work with Kohli in the Indian team are the main reason behind Kohli’s success.

“I would be lying if I take all the credit for this. Yes, I did suggest working out for a couple of hours and maintaining discipline, but credit also goes to the trainers in the team as they made him further believe the importance of physical fitness and its direct effect on the game.

“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.

The childhood coach also feels that Kohli’s fitness is one of the major reasons he enjoys success in world cricket in recent time.

“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,” he signed off.