'He has never been to NCA in his entire career' - Rohit Sharma hails Virat Kohli for being role model

In a recent candid interview with Dinesh Karthik, Rohit Sharma, often hailed as one of the legends of cricket, opened up about his admiration for his teammate and role model, Virat Kohli.

The absence of Kohli from the ongoing series against England due to personal reasons has not gone unnoticed, and India skipper Rohit had some insightful comments to share. He revealed that he has watched Kohli from close quarters and not many know about the rigorous regime he goes through when away from the field. Moreover, he also lauded him by saying that the legendary batter never went to the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru, where most players visit to resolve their fitness issues.

Hence, this speaks volumes of the fitness standards Kohli has maintained over the years and has been a true role model for youngsters out there. While Kohli's absence has raised eyebrows, Rohit commended the skipper for his unwavering commitment to fitness and improvement.

“I feel lucky to watch Virat Kohli from a close range. He is passionate about the game and is always there with the team. People are unaware about what he does off the field to keep going. Virat is dedicated and hunger grows with every series,” Sharma told Karthik on JioCinema.

"He has never been to the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru for any fitness-related issues and not even for some cricket development programs. Youngsters should learn from him about the hunger to improve their game. Apart from personal reasons, Virat doesn’t stay away from the squad. He is always there. He can rest if he wants and take things easy. But that’s not the case with him," Sharma further added.

We all get to learn a lot from him: Rohit Sharma

The India captain emphasized that, apart from personal reasons, Virat Kohli has never stayed away from the squad. Despite having the option to rest and take it easy, Kohli's dedication to the game remains unmatched. As India battled it out against England in the ongoing Test series, Rohit's words shed light on the significance of Kohli's presence both on and off the field. Kohli's absence has not deterred the Indian team's spirit, with the ongoing Test match displaying a thrilling contest between bat and ball.

"We all get to learn a lot from him," Rohit concluded.

Meanwhile, on the back of Ollie Pope's counter-attacking hundred in the second innings, England have managed to stage a comeback, leaving the game finely poised. As of now, England scored 420 in their second innings and have given India a target of 231 to win the game.