Virat Kohli has taken fitness factor to a different level: Sachin Tendulkar

Sachin Tendulkar is one of the most revered batsmen in world cricket. The legendary batsman has served the game of cricket for 24 years. In the recent times, there have been comparisons between him and Virat Kohli. Indian Test skipper Virat Kohli has been on a roll in this calendar year. No wonder that the comparisons were only bound to come sooner or later.

Sachin Tendulkar recently spoke at length about Virat Kohli. He said how the two of them are totally different players. In a conversation with Times of India, Sachin remarked that he and Kohli have different batting styles. He cited how Kohli is someone who loves to flick the ball. Sachin was definitely not renowned for his flicks.

“I don’t see similarities in the playing style. He (Kohli) has his own style. He likes to flick the bat in hand before every ball. It’s part of his preparation. I never did that, each batsman does things differently. I feel the new generation has more awareness about health,” mentioned Sachin Tendulkar.

Adding further to his comments, Sachin said that the game is evolving and so is the approach towards it. “All the things are changing when it comes to approaching any sport. There’s more study behind everything, whether it comes to diet, or your training pattern. That’s clearly showing,” he added further.

The Mumbai batsman also reflected back at how the training used to be in the early days. Now there are small aspects that are being taken care of; be it diet or the training sessions. “It’s a progression on how players prepared themselves in the 90s. So was the case with players in the 70s. I remember that a laptop was introduced in our dressing room in 2002. It was revolutionary at that time. Things had started changing slowly. There were foreign trainers and physios in the dressing room. Diet, training methods, the way the players practice, everything has changed.”

Praising Virat Kohli, Sachin Tendulkar called him an open-hearted guy who is hungry to perform. He commended the dedication that Kohli has in him and remarked that Kohli has taken fitness to a whole new level.

“He’s always been hungry and a good student of the game. His commitment has been very good, he’s surely taken the ‘fitness factor’ to a different level. It’ll have a good effect on the team. He was a very open-hearted guy, and was hungry to learn, and was passionate. When you play for India, you need to be passionate. That’s what he embodies. He has discipline, dedication and concentration,” he conceded.