There is a misconception about how Virat Kohli looks at fitness: Yuzvendra Chahal
Yuzvendra Chahal has revealed it Virat Kohli never asks any of his players to follow a strict diet and fitness regime like he does and there is no restriction at all. Chahal also stated that his challenge has always been to keep performing and now he has developed the ability to read batsmen better.
Until a year ago, Yuzvendra Chahal was relatively unknown. Though he made his IPL debut back in 2013 playing for Mumbai Indians, it was only in 2014 that he was bought by Royal Challengers Bangalore when he started to get regular chances. And consistent performances in the IPL helped him earn a place in the Indian team, which toured Zimbabwe in 2016.
Then, in early 2017, when Indiaâs key spinners Ashwin and Jadeja were rested for the T20I series against England, Chahal got a chance and he delivered. He took 6/25 (best figures by an Indian in T20 cricket). He hasnât looked back since. He started getting more chances and he kept making them count. Now, he is Indiaâs lead spinner along with Kuldeep Yadav in limited-overs cricket.Â
Under Kohli's captaincy, India
âThere is a misconception about how Virat Kohli looks at diet and fitness. I eat everything. Anyway, my body doesn't absorb much fat. Virat never says everyone has to follow the same regime he does. All he says is to make sure you remain fit, keeping longevity and efficiency in mind. How long you can sustain yourself is all that he stresses on,â Chahal was quoted saying by TOI.Â
Chahal revealed that leg-spinners tend to have an advantage over finger-spinners on flat pitches as they get more turn.Â
âThere are certain advantages that leg-spinners enjoy on flat pitches. They get more turn than finger spinners. But it's not like anybody can turn up and roll his arm over to bowl leg spin. You need to be accurate and good at it too,â the 27-
The Haryana leg-spinner also said that it's important to have mental strength as things won't go in one's favour every day, and the challenge has always been to keep performing.Â
âThe challenge is to keep performing. If they start reading me, I'll also read them better. I have enough variations in my repertoire. I generally bowl four types of deliveries and I'll stick to it. It's all about how you react on the field. It's about the mental strength and one must understand that things won't go your way every day. The ability to come out of that bad day is the trick,â he said.Â
As an established Indian cricketer, one would be bound to get a lot of attraction from fans and the general people. And it is nothing different for Chahal. But he admitted that he has been enjoying the spotlight and he likes clicking pictures with fans.Â
âI am enjoying it a lot at the moment. I like clicking photos with fans when I am out for sponsor events. But I realise there is much more responsibility on my shoulders. I have worked my way to this point but there is someone else waiting to replace me if I don't stay grounded. I have endured enough tough times. Even today, it's not like I prefer going to only five-star restaurants to dine. Yes, it gets tough walking freely on the streets but I love going to my shopping places,â the Haryana leggie revealed.Â
Chahal also stated that he was currently focussed on doing well in the IPL for RCB and not thinking about the 2019 World Cup or a spot in the Test team.Â
âYou need different skills to be a Test bowler. It is more about patience and different lengths. I do work towards it. As for the World Cup, I can't be thinking about something that will happen in mid-2019. Playing for RCB in the IPL is a priority for me,â he added.
