Kohli Hasn't Had A Cheat Day In 2 years, Reveals Former Strength And Conditioning Coach Shankar Basu

Having a leader like Kohli in the side helped him in being more effective in his job, says Basu

He came in when the Indian cricket team was ‘looking for a fitness culture’ and former strength and conditioning coach Shankar Basu says his stint has ended with the satisfaction that none of the players would be able to ‘leave the regimen even if they wanted to’. While Kohli was always a ‘freak’ who has not taken a cheat day in the last two years, the Chennai-based professional is most satisfied with the transformation he has brought in the fitness levels of speedsters Jasprit Bumrah, Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Mohammad Shami. “When I started it was a challenge to transform the culture, now 90 per cent of the team trains very professionally. There will always be one or two in every team who require the extra push,” Basu said. Having a leader like Kohli in the side helped him in being more effective in his job. “When you see someone like him, it is difficult not to be inspired,” said Basu. “His cheat days come once in a blue moon, I have not seen him take one in the last two years. I am telling you that fellow is a freak. There will be months together he would go on and I would force him to take rest.” The Indian teams of the past were not known for their fitness but under Kohli, India has become one of the fittest sides around. “It is very simple. You hit one and then you hit two. In a team if the captain sets the example everyone starts following, it is tough otherwise. And you cannot paint everyone with the same brush. “They need to buy in unless they buy in there is no way you can be effective as a coach. When they started seeing the change, they all started embracing it. Now we have come to a stage, even if they want to leave it, they won't be able to. it is ingrained in their system,” said Basu.