I and Virat are very similar, this is why we connected well during my first season at RCB: Faf du Plessis

In exclusive interviews with Star Sports, Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) captain Faf du Plessis and former RCB and Team India bowler Varun Aaron shared their insights on the upcoming IPL season and the anticipated return of cricketing icon Virat Kohli. Faf du Plessis highlighted the striking similarities between himself and Kohli, emphasizing their shared dedication to athleticism, rigorous training regimes, and holistic approaches to professional sportsmanship.

He underscored Kohli's role as a beacon of inspiration for aspiring cricketers, stressing the importance of fitness for long-term success in the sport. Meanwhile, Varun Aaron expressed optimism about Kohli's return to top form, citing his insatiable hunger for cricket and unwavering commitment to excellence. Reflecting on Kohli's sensational performance in the 2016 IPL season, Aaron echoed the hopes of fans worldwide, eagerly anticipating a resurgence of Kohli's extraordinary batting prowess in the upcoming tournament.

Royal Challengers Bangalore captain Faf du Plessis spoke on the similarities between him and teammate Virat Kohli, he said "There are quite a few things that Virat and I are very similar, very alike in the way we see the game or think about the game, but also in how we look at ourselves and how we want to be. Obviously athletic, train hard, be fit, eat well. So we look at a holistic approach to being a professional sportsman and I think that's why we connected so well in my first season at RCB, we were very similar.

And yes he's amazing, he trains hard, he's very fit, and I feel like in today's age of sport you have to be like that if you're looking for longevity so he will be a great example for the younger generation that maybe feel like they can just come in and rely on their talent. Yes they are good enough in terms of talent but in terms of longevity in your body to make sure you can play for as long as possible, fitness will definitely play a role.”

Royal Challengers Bangalore and Team India bowler Varun Aaron spoke on whether fans would get to see a repeat of Virat Kohli’s form in the 2016 season this IPL, he said “I mean all the fans would hope so. He's coming back after a long break, and the way Virat is, he's always hungry for cricket. He was going to have a child and he's taken a break for it, he will be missing cricket for sure, knowing him, he's going to come back with double the hunger. I hope he gets back to that kind of form (2016) in the IPL. The IPL is a long season and to continue that form is to be superhuman. And that season, the way he was batting, it was surreal to watch on the side-lines."