Even in the twilight of his career, remains the benchmark for cricketers all over the world. In a recent revelation, India’s T20 World Cup hero has admitted that he tried following Kohli’s lifestyle advice but lost track after one year and quit.
Even now, younger players struggle to match Kohli’s discipline. This is despite the fact that Kohli’s transformation is a decade old. Be it taking gluten out of his diet or being in the gym for long hours, Kohli has raised the level of fitness for cricketers.
Sanju Samson’s Honest Admission
Samson while speaking on JioStar’s show ‘Believe’, hailed Kohli for the intensity he brings to the gym and looked back on when he got advice on maintaining a diet and routine needed to play at the international level. He confessed to following the suggestions put forward by Kohli but then lost track.
© X/ICC
Seeking Advice from ‘King’
“We all know how Virat bhai is. He is very clear and very straightforward with everyone. If you need to do something, he will tell you exactly what is required. The way he carries himself in the gym, there is a different fire in that guy, and I really love that about him. We both were working out together in the gym during an Indian team camp, and I asked him, ‘Paaji, what should I do? Tell me something too,” he said.
Importance of Lifestyle
“He told me that lifestyle plays a huge role. If you want to become an international cricketer, you must maintain a different kind of lifestyle. He shared what works for him on his journey and told me, ‘This food will help your body recover; this would not. If you maintain this discipline for the next 10 years, you will have a great career ahead. I started following it for a year, a year, and a half, but after that, I could not stay on track with that anymore,” he added.
© X/BCCI
Virat Kohli’s Mission 2027 ODI World Cup
Kohli has since retired from all formats except ODIs, and fans hope he is around till the 2027 ODI World Cup. The man has been around for 18 years and turns 38 this year. Samson, who helped India win a record 3rd T20 World Cup and was part of the squad with Kohli in 2024 when they also won, right now has been dropped. After a poor run in England and Ireland, he was not picked for the T20Is in Zimbabwe. His replacement had a great series.
How Long Will Sanju Samson Play?
Samson turns 32 this year and it remains to be seen if he is in the scheme of things for the Asian Games this year plus the T20 World Cup and Olympic Games in 2028. He’s been playing for India since 2015.