There’s an unrelenting debate that keeps rearing its head every now and then – Is Virat Kohli the greatest Indian batsman ever? The arguments range from the stats to the quality of bowlers to the size of the grounds and bat. However, there is one narrative that brings unanimity: Virat Kohli is the fittest Indian cricketer.

But he was not; not until a decade ago. Then what led him to redefine how Indian cricket looked at fitness? In Virat’s own words it started as it starts for most of the youth – the desire to look good.

“I will not say something which is inaccurate. I will not say that 'I never thought that fitness will make me look good,' because at some stage everyone thinks that way,” Kohli was quoted by a news channel in 2018.

But once he started on that journey, the RCB captain realized how fitness was impacting his game in a positive way.

"Eventually, you realise that it does so much good to you in terms of your mental state, in terms of how you feel and how much more you can do. It is not confined to just sport because even in a work scenario as well, if you are fit, you will be able to work more and achieve more. You will be able to be more productive because if you lack energy you will not be as productive as you should be,” Kohli had said.

Kohli’s lifestyle changes rubbed to the entire team gradually and today the Indian team is one of the fittest in the world. Making yo-yo test a prerequisite requirement to be eligible for the Indian team selection was an extension of the positive changes that came with Kohli making fitness a part of his lifestyle.

But the way the RCB captain sees it, fitness to him is much more than just a professional requirement. "Now, I don't do fitness to look good but to stay fit and obviously, I have professional requirements as well. But even after that (cricket), I don't think it will change and will become a lifestyle.”