Written By: Nirmalya Dutta | Updated : May 26, 2014 4:38 PM IST
We asked our esteemed readers who they considered the fittest player in the 2014 IPL season and they voted overwhelmingly for Virat Kohli, the man many consider the best Indian batsman right now. He left his rivals Chris Gayle, MS Dhoni (both joint second with 13% votes), Mitchell Johnson and Dale Steyn in his wake to pick up the most number of votes. Here are the top 5:
First Position:Virat Kohli (42%)
Kohli s team might be sixth in the league standings but Kohli has become inarguably everyone s favourite Indian cricketer. Combining brash bad boyism with lots of talent, the young man has a physique to die for. Despite playing so much cricket, Kohli has stayed away from injuries. The RCB captain loves gymming, and is a big fan of doing core exercises as it keeps him balanced. He is also a big believer in the concept of eating right to stay fit. I try to eat as light as I can for dinner. During game time, I have protein shakes with carbs. And I take my carbs from good sources. I don t touch junk food unless it is in a place like Kochi where you are completely drained and it is a one-off. , he told Forbes India.
Joint Second: Chris Gayle (13%)
While Gayle might have suffered an injury recently, not many can match the West Indian when he is in form. When asked about how he generated so much power, Gayle told DNA, A good cricket bat and a nice workout in the gym is all you need. You need to build your muscles, work on your intensity and hit balls in the nets. It won t happen overnight, though. As for his diet, the RCB batsman loves his pasta and believes in a good healthy breakfast.
Joint Second: MS Dhoni (13%)
It s not easy to wear so many hats at the same time but Dhoni does it with aplomb. Combining the responsibilities of a captain, a batsman and a wicketkeeper, the Indian captain has also become a fitness icon of sports. To be able to do hundreds of squats a day behind a wicket, and then come out to bat means Dhoni has to be extremely fit. John Gloster, a physiotherapist who worked with the Indian cricket team told Hindustan Times.
Mitchell Johnson (11%)
The English loved to call Mitchell Johnson a clown. They stopped doing that after he ripped apart their batting order with deadly pace in the last Ashes. On the way, he became one of the most intimidating fast bowlers in the world. According to The Australian, Mitchell Johnson trained with Australia s Special Air Service Regiment, where his body was put through the most rigorous of exercises. Speaking about his fitness regime, Corporal Roberts-Smith told Fairfax, You find a way no matter what it takes because in our line of work complacency or lack of desire can lead to loss of life. When we put it in those terms and he and I spoke along those lines, it became clear to him what lengths we will go to by way of training and development to achieve our outcome.
Dale Steyn (6%)
Fast bowlers generally have to be fit to generate so much pace and Dale Steyn certainly falls in that category. An aggressive fast bowler who s an inspiration to all aspiring fast bowlers around the world, the South African believes that stamina and not muscles is what makes a great fast bowler. Your gym work has got to be worthy. You don t need to look like Tarzan if you bowl like Jane. What bowlers should be doing is making sure they can train their muscles for taking part in battle for a long period. You want your quick bowlers bowling at 140km/h at the start of the day and just as quick in the late afternoon. , he said in an interview with The Sydney Morning Herald.
Also read:
For more articles on fitness, check out our fitness section.Follow us on Facebook and Twitter for all the latest updates! For daily free health tips, sign up for our newsletter. And to join discussions on health topics of your choice, visit our forum.
