From past one and a half years, ‘Fitness’ is not just a word in Indian team but it has turned to be a habit and a necessity for players to survive in the team. Virat Kohli, former team India’s conditioning coach Shanker Basu, has formed an environment in the dressing room in which fitness is the word of utmost importance.
From asking players to maintain their fitness levels to that of a footballer to having a check on their diet, there has been a revolution in the Indian team in the last 15 years.
Virat Kohli has been the biggest gainer from this as he has spent extra hours in the gym, shedding some extra kilos, working on his fitness and now is the fittest player on the Indian roster. His energy and fitness levels have impressed each and every player, especially the vice-captain of Indian Test team, Ajinkya Rahane, who wants to match standards set by Virat Kohli.
During a chat with DNA, Ajinkya Rahane expressed his desire to be like Virat Kohli. Here are some excerpts from the interview –
On Virat Kohli’s influence
“Virat Kohli focuses greatly on his fitness. Since he is India’s captain in all three formats today, players look up to him and want to match his standards. I believe this is a wonderful culture that he’s brought into the team. We look to keep improving each day, each session.”
On Personal Habits –
“I like meditating and perform Surya Namaskar every morning, which helps keep me calm and build my composure. As a team, we practice yoga together sometimes, too. However, since each individual is different, some like to read, some listen to music, and some simply keep to themselves to remain relaxed. It all comes down to how you prepare. You must have a healthy and positive state of mind during practice. I try to maintain that each time I step in to bat. For me, visualisation is the key. Simulating a match situation in my head each time I bat during practice helps me. In the end, the finer things you do each day count.”
Rahane’s Diet plan –
“I avoid carbohydrates. No gravy and oily food for me. Also, I think it’s important to eat at the right time. I eat a meal every two to three hours. For me, breakfast is the most important meal. I like to eat fish, grilled chicken, eggs and salads.”
How learning Karate helped Rahane –
“As a kid, I never sat at home. I always preferred playing outdoor sports. I played a lot of cricket and started practicing Karate when I turned six. By the time I was 11 years old, I had a black belt. As I grew up the ranks, from playing under-14 cricket for Mumbai to representing India, I realised how important it is to have a high level of fitness. I believe practicing karate in my initial years helped me immensely.
Ajinkya Rahane will make his comeback to the Indian Test team after a period of more than two months, as he was ruled out of the last two Tests against England due to an injury. He returned to the limited-overs side but scored just a run in the only ODI he played.