Virat Kohli is one of the top athletes but our boys are not behind: Waqar Younis

From breaking on to the international stage as a chubby and impulsive teenager to eventually carve himself as one of the modern-day greats– Virat Kohli’s journey with Team India has been exemplary. The current India skipper, along with being one of the best batsmen in the world, is lauded for his impressive fitness levels.

Kohli started working on his fitness in 2015 and there was no looking back for him since then. The prolific batsman is currently considered as one of the fittest athletes. As per Shankar Basu, Team India’s former trainer, Kohli had even surpassed tennis star Novak Djokovic’s fitness standards.

Current Pakistan’s bowling coach and former skipper Waqar Younis had also heaped praise on Kohli’s exceptional physique and fitness. A month after lauding Kohli’s fitness standards, Waqar has said that the Pakistan cricket team won’t copy the Indian skipper and will set their own standards of fitness. Ahead of their series against England, Younis said that Babar Azam and Shaheen Shah Afridi are super fit in the national squad.

We will set the bar that suits Pakistan cricket: Waqar Younis

“There is no doubt that there are too many cricketers who are fit. There are three formats when you play all three formats you have to maintain fitness standards. He (Virat) is one of the top athletes in the country. Our boys are not behind.

You take Babar Azam, he is very fit. He is also delivering goods. Shaheen Shah Afridi is super fit. We will set our own bar, we not copy someone else. We will set the bar that suits Pakistan cricket and will take the team forward,” said Younis as quoted by Times Now.

The Men in Green will flag off their cricketing journey in the post-coronavirus world by playing three Tests and as many T20Is against hosts England. Pakistan will become the fourth team to return to international cricket since March when the sporting scenario was halted in the wake of COVID-19 debacle.

The Azhar Ali-led side is slated to lock horns with England in the three-match Test series starting from August 5. Following the red-ball series, the three T20Is of the series will be played on August 28, 30 and September 1 where Babar Azam will lead the Pakistan side.