If I don’t set the benchmark as captain, who else will?, asked Virat Kohli reveals childhood coach

01/18/2017

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Long before he took over the helm of the Indian cricket team, Virat Kohli had already set a very high standard for his captaincy, revealed his childhood coach Rajkumar Sharma. Sharma also talked about how the Indian skipper lives an austere lifestyle shunning fast-food and focusing on his fitness.

Coach Rajkumar talked in detail about Virat Kohli's dedication and how he has set high standards for himself ever since. The coach also noted the transformation that Kohli has undergone in an interview to CricketNext.

“Kohli once told me, if I don’t set the benchmark as captain, who else will? Even as the world looks on in wonder, I know the boy behind the man," he said.

Rajkumar also revealed how the Indian skipper has sacrificed simple pleasures in order to attain the lofty heights he has conquered.

"He used to gorge on butter chicken, rolls and all sorts of fast food. But today, it finds no place in his diet.

"It takes a lot of devotion and focusto restructure your lifestyle to this extent. He has cut down on carbs and doesn’t even have rotis now. It is either grilled or boiled food for him. Even his coffee is without sugar and definitely no packaged juices for him.

“In fact, he is so particular about his diet, that even when he comes over to my place, he won’t have packaged juices. You either give him fresh fruit juice or you don’t. Carbs are a strict no-no and there are no binge days in his routine anymore,” he revealed.

Rajkumar also admired the dedication that his pupil has brought to the sport and how he has persisted with it.

“See, it is easy to do these things for a short or particular span of time. But to make it a constant routine and lifestyle is what makes me proud. The kind of sacrifices he has made at this young age is something that even we can’t at our age," he said.

Rajkumar credited the Team India trainers equally for Virat Kohli's fitness.

“I would be lying if I take all the credit for this. Yes, I did suggest working out for a couple of hours and maintaining discipline, but credit also goes to the trainers in the team as they made him further believe the importance of physical fitness and its direct effect on the game.

“In the last two or three years, he has taken fitness and his eating habits to a different level. He takes it so seriously that he got a gym built in his new house. He has this belief that fitness is very important if you have to succeed in international cricket. And his only goal in life is to keep raising the bar,” he said.

If I don’t set the benchmark as captain, who else will?, asked Virat Kohli reveals childhood coach

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