Out of the box: Virat Kohli on the inspiration behind improved fitness regime in Indian cricket

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Image Courtesy: DNA

Virat Kohli has arguably set the benchmark of fitness and has been rightly credited with the tag of one of the fittest cricketers in the world. The change with the new regime is clearly evident with the Indian team being more active in the field than ever.

Image Courtesy: DNA

The Indian skipper revealed that the inspiration of staying fit with discipline being the core comes from footballers. Kohli claimed that cricketers learn a lot from footballers with respect to their professionalism, discipline, and diet. He said in an interview with the Times Of India:

“We always look up to footballers for their discipline. It’s a requirement of the sport that you need to be at your absolute best to be able to take the field. Football players are very particular about professionalism, in terms of physical preparation, nutrition and rest periods. We learn a lot from them,”

Kohli, however, asserted that cricket cannot be directly compared with football as both the sport vary in the requirements. The 30-year-old added that fast bowlers are the closest to footballers when it comes to comparisons. He added:

“You cannot compare. I think the only people who can be compared to an extent in terms of endurance are fast bowlers. Cricket is not a sport which requires amazing physical endurance. Football is fast and played within 90 minutes where you have to be absolutely fit to take control of the situation. In cricket, the fitness level requirement is not as high (as football). But if you strive to be as fit as footballers, then you do things at a different level in cricket. That’s what we look forward to. If we take our fitness level higher, we will perform at another level. Footballers are way fitter than cricketers,”

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