Virat Kohli Fittest Indian Cricketer: BCCI NCA: Virat Kohli is by far the fittest Indian cricketer. If there was any doubt, the latest NCA report prepared by BCCI CEO Hemang Amin has proven that. As per the NCA’s latest report, the injury crisis is at an all-time high. Out of 28 centrally contracted cricketers, 23 have had a visit to the NCA over the last 12 months. The only cricketer playing all three formats to miss the list is Virat Kohli. Barring a back spasm that ruled him out for the 2nd Test against South Africa, Kohli hasn’t missed any matches due to fitness concerns. Follow T20 World Cup LIVE Updates on InsideSport.IN.
He is the fittest player by far. Despite a major dip in form, injury has not been a concern for the Indian star even at 34 years of age. However, he has had frequent breaks over the last 12 months to keep him fresh.
“A total of 96 complex injuries to 70 players were treated by the NCA medical team during this period,” according to the report. Out of 70 players, 23 were from senior India team, 25 from India A/Targeted, one from India U-19 , seven from the senior Women team and 14 from states,” the report prepared by BCCI CEO Hemang Amin said.
Fittest Indian Cricketer: Virat Kohli fittest Indian cricketer, NCA report says 23 Centrally Contracted Cricketers underwent INJURY rehab, barring Kohli, Check Details
According to an insider, Kohli never in the past one year needed to check in at Bengaluru’s Centre of Excellence for injury or fitness-related issues.
“To be fair, a lot of these injuries were on-field. Some were unlucky with fractures (Surya). Some had multiple issues at different times. But you have to give it to Kohli’s fitness that he has managed himself so well that he never had any hamstring or muscle-related injuries, primarily because of the kind of fitness work he does throughout the year,” a BCCI told PTI.
To add a bit of context, the several players who required rehab were 10 years younger to Kohli and had extended periods of various types of injury lay-offs. The list included youngsters like Shubman Gill, Prithvi Shaw, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Venkatesh Iyer, KS Bharat, Kamlesh Nagarkoti, Sanju Samson, Ishan Kishan, Karthik Tyagi, Navdeep Saini and Rahul Chahar.
In 2018, Kohli had developed back-related (herniated disc) problem which prevented him from playing County cricket for Surrey. But since then, he has managed it well and is still the fittest senior Indian player on the park.
Virat Kohli fittest Indian cricketer: What sets Kohli apart from the rest?
- Even though Rishabh Pant hasn’t had major injuries of late, he has had his struggles with fitness.
- But Virat Kohli only had to deal with a back spasm in the last 12 months.
- Kohli has been on a special diet to main his peak fitness.
- His diet mainly contains plant-based protein and vegetables high in fiber and other nutrients.
- He has also stopped consuming meat and instead switched to an eggetarian regimen.
- Kohli has also set up a special gym at his Mumbai residence and on off days, he spends up to 4 hours working out.
However, Team India’s injury concern is real. India are without their three big players — Jasprit Bumrah, Ravindra Jadeja and Deepak Chahar — in the T20 World Cup. In fact, in the current T20 WC squad, barring Dinesh Karthik, Rishabh Pant apart from Kohli, all have had minor to major injuries in the last 12 months. Concerned with that, BCCI has ordered a revamp of the Sports Medicine facility at the NCA.
“Yes, there will be a major shift in approach. We have had too many injuries and it’s a concern. Having injuries is part and parcel of a player but the rehab time should be less. Nitin Patel was sent to NCA for a reason. We will bring in a major change with Nitin overseeing everything in the next two years,” a senior BCCI official said.
Fittest Indian Cricketer: Virat Kohli fittest Indian cricketer, NCA report says 23 Centrally Contracted Cricketers underwent INJURY rehab, barring Kohli, Check Details
India’s Injury Crisis: But India’s injury concerns are growing every day. While the current head coach Rahul Dravid has put in a rotational policy for the players to keep them fresh and broaden the pool, India still has had multiple injuries.
Bumrah’s injury and missing the World Cup along with Deepak Chahar have sent shockwaves inside BCCI corridors. In fact, India are without their three finest players in the T20 World Cup. Ravindra Jadeja missed out with a knee injury, Jasprit Bumrah and Deepak Chahar with back injury.
The incoming BCCI President Roger Binny-led team will have to implement a proper plan to prevent long-term injury layoffs. Barring Virat Kohli and Rishabh Pant, all players in the current Indian team had to drop in at the NCA to undergo rehab at some point in the last 12 months.
Major Injury Crisis of Indian players:
- Jasprit Bumrah: Back
- Rohit Sharma: Muscle
- Ravindra Jadeja: Knee
- KL Rahul: Groin and sports hernia
- Shreyas Iyer: Shoulder
- Umesh Yadav: Muscle
- Hardik Pandya: Back
- Washington Sundar: Knee
- Deepak Chahar: Hamstring, Back
Players to undergo rehab at NCA: Rohit Sharma (hamstring), his deputy KL Rahul (post hernia surgery), Cheteshwar Pujara, Shikhar Dhawan, Hardik Pandya, Umesh Yadav, Ravindra Jadeja, Rishabh Pant, Ishant Sharma, Shreyas Iyer, Suryakumar Yadav, Mayank Agarwal, Yuzvendra Chahal, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep yadav, Washington Sundar, Bhuvneshear Kumar, Ajinkya Rahane, R Ashwin, Axar Patel and Wriddhiman Saha.
BCCI Centrally Contracted players: A+ Grade: Virat Kohli, Jasprit Bumrah and Rohit Sharma. A Grade: Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Rishabh Pant, KL Rahul and Mohammad Shami. B Grade: Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane, Axar Patel, Shardul Thakur, Shreyas Iyer, Mohammed Siraj and Ishant Sharma, C Grade: Shikhar Dhawan, Umesh Yadav, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Hardik Pandya, Washington Sundar, Deepak Chahar, Shubman Gill, Hanuma Vihari, Yuzvendra Chahal, Wriddhiman Saha, Suryakumar Yadav and Mayank Agarwal.
Fittest Indian Cricketer: Virat Kohli fittest Indian cricketer, NCA report says 23 Centrally Contracted Cricketers underwent INJURY rehab, barring Kohli, Check Details
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