RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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See the full story · 1 sourcesSanju Samson recalls trying Virat Kohli's fitness regimen for a 'great career' before giving up after 18 months originally appeared on Cricket News .
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KEY TAKEAWAYS:
Sanju Samson tried Virat Kohli's fitness and lifestyle regimen after a gym conversation.
He sustained the discipline for around 18 months before falling off the routine.
Samson now says he plays entirely on his own terms after guiding India to T20 World Cup 2026 victory.
Sanju Samson recalls trying Virat Kohli's fitness regimen for a 'great career' before giving up after 18 months
Few names in Indian cricket carry the fitness aura that Virat Kohli does, with his transformation over a decade having reshaped the dressing room's standards on diet, training, and recovery. So when Sanju Samson sought guidance during a national camp, it was Kohli's blueprint he reached for, only to discover how demanding that path truly was.
Speaking on JioStar's programme 'Believe' , as reported by ANI, the wicketkeeper-batter recalled a gym session alongside the former captain that left a lasting impression. Samson, the leading run-scorer and Player of the Tournament in India's 2026 T20 World Cup triumph, framed the memory with obvious admiration for Kohli's intensity.
The conversation began, by Samson's account, with a direct plea for advice. He explained the exchange in detail, capturing both the reverence he holds for Kohli and the clarity of the response he received on that camp morning inside the gym.
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The conversation with Kohli kicked off Samson's fitness routine
Samson described Kohli's manner in unmistakable terms. He said, "We all know how Virat bhai is. He is very clear and very straightforward with everyone. If you need to do something, he will tell you exactly what is required. The way he carries himself in the gym, there is a different fire in that guy, and I really love that about him."
He then recounted the moment he asked for help. Samson recalled, "We both were working out together in the gym during an Indian team camp, and I asked him, 'Paaji, what should I do? Tell me something too!' and he told me that lifestyle plays a huge role. If you want to become an international cricketer, you must maintain a different kind of lifestyle."
The specifics stayed with him, even if the habit did not. Samson added, "He shared what works for him on his journey and told me, 'This food will help your body recover; this won't. If you maintain this discipline for the next 10 years, you will have a great career ahead.' I started following it for a year, a year, and a half, but after that, I couldn't stay on track with that anymore!"
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Samson chooses his own path
The admission is disarmingly honest, and it reflects a wider shift in how Samson now approaches his career. Having stepped away from what he calls the rat race before the 2026 World Cup, he has effectively made peace with doing things his own way rather than chasing a template built for someone else.
There is a quiet defiance in that stance. Kohli's regimen works because it is his, forged from his own obsessions, and Samson's candour suggests a player who has stopped measuring himself against an ideal that never quite fitted, choosing instead to trust the instincts that delivered a World Cup.
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