‘He has great facilities at Lord’s…’

Virat Kohli delivered a stunning performance against South Africa in the first ODI in Ranchi as he scored a magnificent 135 runs off 120 balls. His knock silenced all the critiques and doubters who raised questions about his form and fitness. In the first ODI, Kohli was in excellent form as he hit seven sixes and 11 boundaries.

It was Kohli’s knock that played a very crucial role in India’s 17-run win against the Proteas who put up a tough competition. Former South African pacer Dale Steyn also shared valuable insights into Kohli’s approach and how he manages to stay in the top physical condition. Steyn highlighted that he trains at world-class facilities in London with a personal trainer who helps maintain his peak fitness. He praised Kohli as a “true professional,” mentioning about his dedication to staying in top form despite the pressures of international cricket.

“I actually saw him (Kohli) last night at dinner. I had a chat with him and asked him ‘What do you do, because you play just one format?’, and he said, ‘I live in London now’,” said Steyn, spoke on Star Sports after the match.

“He has great facilities at Lord’s, at Surrey, and he goes to practice too. There’s a trainer he works with.

“He’s always well prepared. When you look at him, he’s in tip-top condition all the time, mentally he is super strong,” said Steyn.

“He’s well aware of his game, and how he goes about scoring his runs. He comes in, joins the team, and is fully committed. And then you see such kind of performances. That is what true professionals do,” Steyn further added.

There were many reports that suggested that BCCI wants Kohli to play domestic cricket to stay in form and carry forward his rhythm. But Virat remains of the belief that excessive preparation is unnecessary as he explained that he prefers focusing on quality over quantity when he trains.