'Virat Kohli's Biggest Legacy Is..': Dilip Vengsarkar 'Praises' Indian Superstar
Virat Kohli is the fittest cricketer in the world (Twitter)
For all his greatness with the bat and legendary status as a cricketer, former India batter Dilip Vengsarkar reckons, Virat Kohli's "biggest legacy" and impact on Indian cricket is the fitness culture the fittest cricketing personality has managed to establish since his captaincy tenure.
In a mighty successful all-format stint at the helm of affairs that concluded controversially at the fag end of 2021, Kohli held an inspirational presence in terms of performances and fitness and laid the benchmark for other cricketers part of the squad, with the much-documented introduction of the yo-yo test as one of the metrics for selection.
The former skipper was even criticised in certain corners with claims of upholding fitness above cricketing ability, but Kohli's wise attitude and stubborn nature, besides great power within the Indian set-up, helped continue with the physical ploy and Men In Blue raise their fitness standards to a remarkable degree.
Vengsarkar Hails Kohli As Fitness Inspiration
Beyond the field of cricket, Kohli remains one of the biggest youth icons and gym inspiration for youngsters with his astonishing transformation from a chubby West Delhi Punjabi boy, encouraging the GenZ with his social media clips featuring weightlifting and multiple great exercises.
Vengsarkar, whose tenure as BCCI's ex chief selector is renowned for fighting in favour of Kohli's maiden international appearance back in 2008 above the then cricket board head N Srinivasan's preferred choice Subramaniam Badrinath, spoke in glowing praise of the man he recognised well before Indian cricket's top brass did.
"His biggest legacy to Indian cricket is the 'culture of fitness' he has introduced into the Indian team, and the whole system," Vengsarkar, who played 116 Tests and 129 ODIs for India, told the Times of India.
"When I see him convert ones into twos, and twos into threes, I tell the boys at my coaching academy to learn from him and replicate his fitness standards. All the young cricketers who come to my academy want to emulate him, which is a good sign for Indian cricket," the former player added.
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