Virat Kohli believes ongoing break will help him in IPL 2018

The Indian cricket team is currently in Sri Lanka for the T20I tri-series Nidahas Trophy but they are playing under Rohit Sharma’s captaincy as after South Africa tour, Kohli was given a rest. Kohli showed brilliant form on South African soil as under his leadership the team made a comeback in the limited overs series after losing the three-match Test series by 2-1. Kohli accepted that he desperately needed this break and it will give him enough freshness to start their campaign in the upcoming Indian Premier League. In 2017, Royal Challengers Bangalore witnessed a forgettable season and this time Kohli didn’t want to leave any stone unturned.

"Times like these are very-very important going ahead. I am totally enjoying it. I do not even have an inch of me missing out on anything because my body really needed this. Although I am keeping a track of the games, I do not watch matches right now and feel like I want to be on the field because I have started to listen to my body," Kohli explained as quoted by PTI.

"And when I am done with this period, obviously in the IPL I will be coming out fresh. I will be mentally in a better place on the field. I have been on the road for a long, long time. I have hardly missed any games. You need to pay respect to your body as well at times and this phase is very important to me. I can sit and not move for hours. As much as energy I show on the field but when I get time at home, I can be a total vegetable. I can be very annoying because I do not move at all."

The Indian skipper considered as one of the fittest players on the international circuit and his passion for fitness also motivated the other members of the squad. Kohli is the player who leads by examples and now his lifestyle is followed by the other players. But the 29-year-old accepted that it is time to take care of his body and manage his workload, so that, he can avoid any problem in the future.

"Physically I had a few niggles, I am just getting over those. The workload has started to disagree (taking a toll) with me a little bit. I have to be very careful about how I go forward with my body, my mind, my cricket," Kohli said.

Federer is one of the greatest players in the history of sports and has gained admirers from the other sports as well. He continued his great run on the circuit despite being at the age of 36 by winning the Australian Open earlier this year. Kohli also praised Federer’s form and his way of breaking barriers.

"Roger Federer is my ultimate favourite. When he plays it's so beautiful. He has a family now, priorities set, he takes time out of the game without worrying about opinions and criticism of people and then he comes in and wins Grand Slams at 36, he is defying all the logic and that's something I totally love.

"I hate following the norm and he is someone who is breaking barriers on a daily basis and I have huge respect for him," Kohli said.