Virat Kohli has come back in much better shape: Basu Shanker

After nearly six months Virat Kohli and Co. hit the training grounds as the pre-season camp began in the UAE for Dream11 IPL.

Speaking to news agency PTI, Royal Challengers Bangalore’s Strength and Conditioning Coach, Basu Shanker explained how the team has been preparing for the upcoming season and what were the procedures that players followed during the lockdown. 

India and RCB skipper, Virat Kohli was following Basu’s fitness regime in order to stay fit and match ready. 

“He (Kohli) has come back in much better shape. He is at his best weight at the moment and his movement patterns are pretty much in sync with his best self in the past. He has taken this break as an opportunity to work on all the pointers which needed attention from a physical point. I guess his motto to life is 'Bear the cross and wear the crown'," Basu told PTI from Dubai.

"He had the time to be very specific with his meal plans and running intervals at home. He did not have much of a choice during the lockdown and he invested on a treadmill and worked on his endurance which is otherwise not possible during a packed calendar. For ground reaction forces every now and then, he did shuttle running in his apartment which had a little space,” said Basu.

The 31-year-old is in his best possible shape opines Coach Basu. "Apart from that, his customised strength work to compliment that was his mantra during the lockout. So a combination of running and strength work and he kept it simple by just following this to the T.”

The Bengaluru-based team has been training and has held multiple practice sessions after completion of their mandatory quarantine on arrival in Dubai. "With regards to assessing a player's fitness - most of the workouts are a test in itself. As a coach, we have to be prudent that they tick the right boxes and drills which can be an assessment.”

Given the fact that this is going to be a first-time experience for many playing in UAE conditions, Royal Challengers Bangalore’s coaching staff has been handling the situation with due diligence to make sure everything goes according to the plan. "The coaching director (Mike Hesson) and the head coach (Simon Katich) and the entire support group are aware of a long layoff and ergo the planning with regards to the length of practice times, humidity, temperature, and recovery is something we have worked as a team,” he said. 

"There is no foolproof algorithm for it but a sensible approach is what we are treading on." All teams are gradually increasing the intensity of the practice sessions as players and especially fast bowlers are more prone to injuries coming back after probably the longest break in their careers. Our bowling coach (Adam Griffith) has come with a specific plan pertaining to loads in the first 2 weeks and that will be used as a blueprint,” he further added.

"The players have done a lot of fitness work and complimenting the skills and choosing the right exercises to get the balance will provide the much-needed impetus for every bowler. Almost everyone had access to the gym (at least in the home setting), so that will not worry us at all," he said.

“The modern cricketers are very mindful of their meal plans. Hydration, balanced amount of protein, carbs, and good fat will do the trick and to combat the heat - again we have our wellness and load monitoring system which will be put to good use," said Basu when asked about the recommended diet plan in the prevailing conditions.

[With PTI inputs]