Made a lifestyle choice because I never wanted to be average: Virat Kohli

Indian Test skipper Virat Kohli is probably the fittest cricketer currently, and he expects his teammates to be up to the mark. He said it was after the IPL 2012, where he decided to focus more on the fitness part.

“It was after the IPL in 2012. Till then I did not focus much on the physical aspect. I never got into the minute details of fitness, things like what I need to eat from morning to night, how much I need to work out, how much I need to train. After that IPL, I started listening to my body,” an event in Delhi on Tuesday.

Virat feels that with the fitness levels he is having, he can do almost anything on the field. “I made a lifestyle choice (back in 2012). I wanted to explore a new side of my body to take me to the next level because I never wanted to be average. I wanted to be the best in the world. So I always had that mindset but never had the physical ability (before 2012).”

He is having a great run in all forms of the game and fitness plays a big role in his batting and acrobatic fielding. “When you become fit, you feel you can do anything. I will give you one example. I was never a quick fielder. I was never willing to field in every position. But after becoming fitter, lighter and stronger, I overcame all those doubts I had (about fielding). Now it (staying fit, eating right) has become second nature to me,” he said.

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The 27-year old wants to create awareness on fitness and importance of staying fit. “If you look at some of the statistics (rising health problems in India), it causes fear in your mind. So I want to create awareness on fitness, the importance of staying fit and healthy. You would be able to do what you want to do only when you feel fit from inside.

“I have never been as fit as I am today. It has worked beautifully for me. It has become a lifestyle choice for me. Even in off time, I watch what I eat. In fact, I get more excited about fitness, feeling good, being healthy than anything else. That is probably because my body realizes that fitness is what I would need after my professional career is done,” Kohli signed-off.