Virat Kohli Asked Me To Focus On Training Not Food For 10 Years: Sanju Samson

Kerala wicket-keeper batsman Sanju Samson is in sensational form for Rajasthan Royals in the Indian Premier League (IPL). Samson has delivered top-notch performances which has helped his team seal victory and might also help him return to the national team squad. In a conversation, Samson recalled the fitness tips he got from Team India captain Virat Kohli.

Kohli is a fitness freak. He has set the standards in the national team and pioneered the Yo-Yo test. He had told Samson, during a Team India training session, that he needs to concentrate on cricket for the next 10 years or so and then he can have food for Kerala.

“When I was in the gym with the Indian team, I was there with Virat bhai. I asked him what is his training routine and how he puts so much energy into fitness.

“I kept on asking him a lot of such different questions. Then he asked me ‘Sanju how many years are you going to play cricket’, so I said that I am 25 right now, and I can play for another 10 years or so.

“Then Virat told me, after 10 years you can do whatever, you can eat food from Kerala and whatever else you want to do, but you won’t be able to play cricket after these 10 years. So, why don’t you give everything, whatever you have, to cricket in these 10 years,” Sanju Samson said.

Samson received his T20I cap for India in 2015 against Zimbabwe. He has played four matches in the shortest format, scoring 35 runs, which has seen him being dropped out of the side. Samson, 29, has played 55 matches for Kerala in domestic cricket, scoring 3162 runs, at an average of 37.64.

Ahead of the IPL 2020, Samson played 149 T20Is, where he has scored 3481 runs at an average of 26.98. He also has two centuries and 21 half-centuries to his name.