New Delhi: Virat Kohli celebrates his 36th birthday on November 5, and the former captain of India’s men’s cricket team is renowned for his exceptional performance both on the field and in maintaining his fitness. To mark this occasion, we delve into his diet plan to understand how he manages to excel. As an athlete, Kohli is meticulous about his food choices, opting to avoid deep-fried foods and heavily spiced dishes in favor of steamed or boiled options, as he shared in a recent interview.
In an April interview with Star Sports last year, Virat Kohli discussed his disciplined diet plan, which he adheres to in order to maintain peak performance. He stated, “90 per cent of my food is all steamed, boiled. No masala. Only salt, pepper, and lime; that’s how I eat. I am not a big fanatic about the taste of food, I don’t care about the taste. Salads, I enjoy with a bit of dressing. Pan-grilled is good with a bit of olive oil or whatever. No curries; I only eat dal (lentils), but no masala curries. I do, however, eat rajma and lobia (black-eyed pea); as a Punjabi can’t skip them.”
Virat emphasizes that those embarking on a fitness journey must first understand various components such as “vitamins, extra hydration, and protein.” Once these elements are established, he believes that “repetition becomes everything” and finding the right balance is crucial. However, for Virat, who subscribes to the philosophy that less is more, food presented the greatest challenge. “The biggest challenge that I felt in terms of fitness is food.”
The cricketer, who adheres to a vegetarian diet, noted, “Because everyone can go to the gym and work hard. But with food, it is different because you have tastebuds. It is linked to your mind wanting something and not wanting something. You have to persevere there; it is something I figured out quite early. I can eat the same thing for the next 6 months, 3 times a day. I have no issues at all.”
