Virat Kohli speaks about his fitness mantra for explosive power

Royal Challengers Bangalore skipper Virat Kohli has been in magnificent form in this season’s IPL, having scored 919 runs in this year’s tournament with an unprecedented four centuries in this edition. He gave a hint to the secret of his explosive power and run making in an interview with the Royal Challengers Bangalore mascot, Mr. Nags on the official Royal Challengers Bangalore Youtube page. Kohli is known for his explosiveness on the field. He is a tireless runner between the wickets, he has impeccable footwork and is a highly aggressive captain. He said that he did not work on his upper body. He concentrated solely on his lower body as he wanted to increase his “explosive power”.

Kohli credited RCB and Team India’s Strength and Conditioning coach Mr. Shankar Basu for introducing him to weight-lifting. He said, “Fitness regime is pretty simple. There is a big role of our trainer, Mr. Basu, who also trains the RCB team, and is the Indian team trainer."

Kohli added, “He introduced me to weight-lifting, and that has made me realise what actually one needs to do. It's a thing that one needs to get a knowledge of. I don't do upper body. I only work on my legs for explosive power. He [Basu] makes me do a crazy number of squats, close to a 100 in a session."

Kohli also spoke of his partner in crime, Ab de Villiers, saying that he was the best in the world.

Batting success

In an earlier interview to the official broadcaster after his team’s match against the Gujarat Lions, the 27-year-old had said that he preferred the “boring”, old fashioned approach while batting and training. He said he liked to build his innings in the first 15-20 balls and then attacking the bowling instead of going all out from the beginning of the innings.

Kohli, who had just scored his third ton of the tournament against the Gujarat Lions on 14 May, told Sony “It is a conscious effort, to be very honest. It is more like ‘Eat, sleep, train, repeat’. If you want to be consistent, you need to be boring with your training, your food and your batting habits,"

The Orange cap holder with 919 runs, Kohli also said,"You cannot take the sport for granted. During the last match [against Mumbai Indians] I told Dan [Daniel Vettori, the Royal Challengers head coach] that I felt like I could hit every ball of the first over from Tim Southee for a six. But I stopped myself because I don't want to disrespect the sport. I want to build my innings in the same way every time I go in to bat."

The Virat Kohli led Royal Challengers Bangalore are in the finals after winning the game against the Gujarat Lions. Kohli’s batting was vital in leading the team to the finals.