Cricketers have various different diets to meet the demands of the IPL

Cricketers put in a lot of effort to keep themselves fit by following a strict diet during the course of a lengthy tournament like the IPL. They work hard at the gym day-in and day-out and it is only prudent to treat their bodies with the right food which is rich in nutrition and high in protein.

The IPL is done and dusted for this year. Mumbai won a record third IPL title after a nail-biting one-run win over Rising Pune Supergiant in Hyderabad on Sunday. A defeat, as their skipper Steve Smith stated, was a hard pill to swallow as RPS’s loss was a heart-wrecking one with just a solitary run separating them from lifting their maiden IPL title. They played some refreshing cricket this year after a disastrous first season last year and should be proud of their efforts.

The rigorous nature of the tournament keeps the participating players on their toes. Flights and matches every second or third day along with training makes it difficult for the players to get adequate rest before games. Eating the right food at the luxurious hotels they live in is what they resort to, to meet the demands of the 45-day tournament.

In a conversation with ESPN, Joy Bhattacharya, executive chef at the Trident in Mumbai, the hotel that has hosted the city’s IPL side for close to nine years now, gives us an insight into what cricketers tend to eat during the tournament.

“You think light, healthy, nutritious, full of protein and fibre will be ordered,” Bhattacharya says. “They definitely form a part of the meal, but not necessarily the entire meal. Through the ten seasons that have gone, I’ve seen that it’s about how many calories you burn throughout the day.”

“Their meals are pretty stout, I would say, because they need that protein intake through the day to build their muscles and body mass and to have energy in the form of carbohydrates, maybe two-three glasses of milkshakes for breakfast” pointed out Bhattacharya.

Players enjoy a heavy breakfast and light lunch

It is often said that breakfast should be the heaviest meal of the day for people, which is no different for the players. To eradicate monotony, the breakfast and pre-game menu is changed every day. Bhattacharya says that Eggs Benedict is a clear favourite amongst the cricketers. He says players usually order light for lunch or skip the meal altogether.

“The meals, apart from breakfast, ranges from a wide menu available at the luxury hotel.” Bhattacharya points out. The cricketers are not too fanatic about desserts, which generally contain a lot of sweet, considered not ideal for sportsmen.

“It ranges from lamb chops to spit-roast chicken, or a grilled spatchcock with potatoes and wild mushrooms,” Bhattacharya says. “Dim sums, chilli chicken with ginger. Maybe hardcore meats or maybe a few pastas here and there to pep up the carb content.”

“One thing I need to say is they are not very fanatical about desserts.”

“Before the matches, I have witnessed baingan ka bharta [grilled aubergine] going with rotis. It’s nice and light vegetarian food.

Overseas cricketers happy with the variety available

One would wonder how the overseas players adjust to the food in India for a long duration of time. Speaking to ESPN, Shaun Tait, who played four seasons in the IPL representing Rajasthan Royals, talks about his fantastic experience of staying in the luxurious hotels across the country.

“You can order whatever food you want – International food, Indian food, it’s usually all there,” Tait says of the hotel experience in India during the IPL. “Room service is probably No. 1 [on the list of amenities], and obviously the swimming pool, gym facilities. You can make yourself feel at home with whatever food you usually eat.

“When you are trying to get your skinfolds down, it can be a bit of an issue sometimes. I like south Indian food. I used to eat a lot of dosas and, to be fair, even the parathas and the big curries [from the north].”

Fellow Australian Brad Hogg, who played for Kolkata Knight Riders and Rajasthan Royals between 2012 and 2016, loved the variety of cuisines available while his playing days.

“It’s about making the most of what’s there and adjusting to it,” Hogg says. “For me, the hotel’s got to have a good bed, good internet connection, good food and a gym.

“I try and eat like I eat at home. I like to try the different varieties of food the hotel offers because you’ve got different cuisines. So you try it, but you make sure that you have the healthier options of those dishes and pick the nights when you want the unhealthier options.”

While cricketers enjoy the adulation and hefty paychecks in the IPL, a lot goes on behind the scenes to make them the players that they are.