Cricket legend Virat Kohli announced his retirement from Test cricket on May 12, 2025, bringing an end to a career that set unparalleled records. However, the Kohli we know today, renowned for his athletic fitness, wasn’t always the same.
Growing up in West Delhi, Kohli’s lifestyle was far from what it is now. He once shared that he had no specific eating routine and often indulged in his love for sweets. “I used to eat sweets… I finished two packets of 40 toffees each, available in the hotel room mini bar, every week,” Kohli said. “I had no pattern of eating, no idea about food and drinks.”
In his early days, Kohli’s food choices were far from disciplined. “I used to eat everything back then, chicken fried rice with chilly chicken was my regular,” he recalled.
What triggered Kohli’s dramatic transformation?
According to him, the turning point came in 2012. Kohli’s confidence soared after his first Test century in Australia, followed by a stunning performance in Hobart against Sri Lanka, where India chased down a challenging target in 40 overs. “I thought I was going to dominate the IPL that year,” he said. But the reality was different. “The moment IPL started, I had a string of failures, and my mindset dropped,” he admitted.
The struggles during the initial matches of the IPL were mentally taxing for Kohli. “I couldn’t make runs in the first 6-7 matches. I hardly reached double figures. I got so mentally disturbed,” he explained.
It was then that he had a moment of self-reflection. “I came out of the shower and felt embarrassed looking at myself in the mirror. How can a person look like this, being an international cricketer?” That moment marked a turning point in his life.
From that day onward, Kohli made a drastic change. “Everything completely stopped. My diet plan changed, I started working out for two hours in the gym every day,” he said. The transformation was not just physical but also mental, as Kohli’s disciplined approach to fitness and nutrition took shape, setting the foundation for the superstar we know today.
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