Indian skipper Virat Kohli has been a big inspiration to the upcoming players when it comes to fitness. The cricketer has set a benchmark and the rest are striving to follow the captain's footsteps.
While Kohli has always spoken about how he manages his diet and training, in a recent conversation with Times of India, he revealed the impact of football and footballers on cricket.
“We always look up to footballers for their discipline. It’s a requirement of the sport that you need to be at your absolute best to be able to take the field. Football players are very particular about professionalism, in terms of physical preparation, nutrition and rest periods. We learn a lot from them,” Kohli told ToI.
However, he also said that the training requirement for both the sports is way different and fast bowlers with their workload come close to the footballers.
“You cannot compare. I think the only people who can be compared to an extent in terms of endurance are fast bowlers. Cricket is not a sport which requires amazing physical endurance. Football is fast and played within 90 minutes where you have to be absolutely fit to take control of the situation. In cricket, the fitness level requirement is not as high (as football). But if you strive to be as fit as footballers, then you do things at a different level in cricket. That’s what we look forward to. If we take our fitness level higher, we will perform at another level. Footballers are way fitter than cricketers,” he further added.
As for cricket, India will next take on South Africa in a 3-match Test series. The side received a huge jolt after Jasprit Bumrah was ruled out due to a stress fracture. He has been replaced by Umesh Yadav.
