Virat Kohli diet during ODI World Cup 2023: Former India captain Virat Kohli has always been conscious of his diet and fitness to maintain his optimal performance on the cricketing field. It's no surprise that the 34-year-old continues to pay close attention to his nutrition during the ongoing ODI World Cup 2023 tournament. The superstar Indian athlete, at present, is the highest run-scorer for the Men in Blue with 354 runs in 5 ODI World Cup 2023 matches. A chef from one of the hotels where the Indian cricket team stayed has shared insights into Virat Kohli's diet during ICC Men's ODI World Cup 2023 tournament.
The executive chef at Leela Palace exclusively told Times of India that legend Virat Kohli has been incorporating tofu and soy-based meals into his diet to meet his protein needs during ODI World Cup 2023 tournament.
"The buffet has all kinds of meat but the players opt for steamed or grilled chicken or fish," Anushman Bali, executive chef at Leela Palace, told the Times of India.
"Virat doesn't eat meat and so we went for steamed foods, like vegetarian dim sums, and other vegetable-based proteins, like soya, mock meats, and lean proteins, like tofu for him. We include as little dairy as possible in his meals," says Anushman.
The executive chef revealed that New Zealand batting star Devon Conway likes to have parathas once in a while.
"Many of the teams have stayed with us for the IPL earlier so we know their preferences. The New Zealand team stays away from curries, but there are players such as Devon Conway, for example, who have tried Indian food before and will ask for parathas once in a while. Or dosa for breakfast," says Anshuman.
According to the hotel's chef, Ragi doss has been team India's favourite.
"We have millet dosas, millet idlis and quinoa idli on the menu. All the players know it's healthy protein, so they all tried it. Ragi dosas were a favourite with the Indian team for breakfast," he said.
"For New Zealand, it was Pavlova, their national dessert, which is a meringue-based dessert made with egg white, filled with fresh fruits," he further said.
Teams only order alcohol for a post-win party, else usually it is a big no-no.
"And there is no alcohol unless there is a win when there will be a little party," the chef said.