'Virat Kohli plays pre-match football drill as if it's FIFA World Cup final' - Nasser Hussain

Incorporating new training drills in practice has slowly become a trend in cricket. Cricketers are spotted training in the gym and playing various other sports like football and volleyball as a part of their pre-match drills. Training, diet and pre-match drills have helped in elevating the fitness levels of many players.

Virat Kohli is also such player who has been successful in evolving his game and fitness over the years. He is also known to be an avid football fan and he actively participates in the football drills in Team India’s pre-match customary drills. According to former England skipper Nasser Hussain, when Kohli switches to football in the drill, he plays it as if it’s the FIFA World Cup final or the FA Cup final.

Nasser Hussain lauded Kohli’s intensity and hunger to succeed in the sport and said that the Indian skipper’s drive for winning is second to none. Hussain also heaped praise on Kohli’s expertise in chasing a total.

“I think it’s his hunger for runs and his wanting to win. I watched him play football before, and sometimes football band etc. The Indian team plays football, and he plays as if it’s the World Cup final, the FA Cup final, the last game in the Premier League,” Hussain said.

“He takes that into cricket, that’s why he’s so brilliant in a run chase. You give him a situation where he could win a game, whatever that game is, and that is all he is focused in on. His drive for winning is second to none.”

Nasser Hussain lauds Virat Kohli’s hunger to succeed

Kohli has been amassing runs for the past few years and etching many records to his name. However, Hussain said the Indian skipper is not worried about personal records.

“I honestly believe that he’s not worried about stats or the only stat, that he’s worried about is the win-loss ratio,” said Vaughan on Star Sports show ‘Cricket Connected’.

“I remember speaking to Duncan Fletcher about it when Duncan first saw him, he said, watch out for this lad, he has a real fight and character about him. And he was spot on! You can have his ability, you can have all the money and everything that goes with Virat Kohli. The thing that stands out from the rest is that he’s a winner,” added Hussain.