Basu Shanker speaks on high-pitch about Virat Kohli's child-like enthusiasm

Virat Kohli is hailed as one of the fittest players in the cricketing world and is often credited for changing the Indian cricket team’s fitness culture. Currently, he is grinding hard in the gym to build muscles for the upcoming T20 World Cup in Australia.

Many former cricketers have appreciated Kohli for his hard work and commitment to fitness and Royal Challengers Bangalore's strength and conditioning coach Basu Shanker is no new to this list. 

Shanker, who has also been part of the senior national team as the fitness coach, spoke about the former RCB skipper’s enthusiasm and sheer dedication to working out at the gym.

While heaping praises on Kohli, RCB’s strength and conditioning coach said that Kohli still comes to the gym with child-like enthusiasm and enjoys spending time in the gym. 

“What excites me is he comes like a child even today. What I saw in him when he was 19 or 20 the enthusiasm has not come down even that one per cent. It has only gone up. The drive and that steely resolve he has got are so inspiring,” said Shanker talking to the media.

“Can’t do the same thing over and over again. The program has to change. Every year, we need to start tweaking. Track what’s needed and evolve accordingly.”

“There’s nothing much. Keep doing the simple things, boring things consistently; that’s the mantra. Eat well, sleep well, train well and repeat.”

Team India is scheduled to play the T20 World Cup in Australia later this year, and the major focus will be on Virat Kohli, who left team India’s captaincy last year to focus on his game. Basu revealed that more emphasis is on building muscle mass considering the T20 World Cup. 

“Virat is mainly... we are trying to build muscle mass. T20 also requires a lot of explosive energy; force production is a byproduct. It’s a mandatory thing for him to be strong. You also have the World Cup round the corner. So obviously, it’s a long-distance call as well as a short-distance call,” Basu said.

Virat Kohli has looked out of touch in the entire season of the ongoing IPL. In RCB’s most recent encounter against the table-toppers Gujarat Titans, he pushed himself hard to bring up his first half-century of this season as he smacked 53-ball 58, which wasn’t enough to take the Challengers past the finish line.