Basu Shanker, the man responsible for the national team’s fitness transformation, feels that India and Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) skipper Virat Kohli has returned from a long hiatus as an even fitter athlete after working out. on “specific physical tips” that needed attention. Kohli was stuck in Mumbai for five months due to the coronavirus lockdown and had his first hit on the networks only after his arrival in the United Arab Emirates for the Indian Premier League, starting on September 19.
However, during the break he ensured that his supreme fitness level was unaffected and actually helped his abilities on his return to action even though he was “scared” of hitting the nets.
“He (Kohli) has come back in much better shape. He is at his best weight right now and his movement patterns are quite in sync with his better self in the past,” said former India coach Basu, who is now the force. and Royal Challengers Bangalore conditioning coach, told PTI from Dubai.
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“He has taken this break as an opportunity to work on all the points that needed attention from a physical point of view. I guess his motto for life is ‘Carry the cross and wear the crown,'” said the man who worked with the Indian team. between 2015 and 2019.
He has worked with Kohli a lot, both at RCB and during his time with the Indian team.
Basu said Kohli was able to work on things that an international cricketer finds difficult to do on a packed schedule.
“He had time to be very specific with his meal plans and home run intervals. He didn’t have a lot of options during the run and invested in a treadmill and worked on his endurance, which is not otherwise possible during a run. full calendar.
“For the ground reaction forces from time to time, he did shuttle races in his apartment, which had little space. With all these limitations, the attitude stood out more than the training.”
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“Other than that, his personalized strength works to complement that was his mantra during the lockout. So a combination of career work and strength and he kept it simple by just following this to the T,” Basu said.
The RCB team has been training for a week and Basu said it is only a matter of time before the players are ready for the match.
“Since most of them have arrived in good physical shape, it is only a matter of time before they are ready for the game.”
“Regarding the evaluation of a player’s physical condition, most of the training sessions are a test in themselves. As a coach, we have to be careful so that they mark the correct boxes and the exercises that can be an evaluation,” he said .
“Coaching director (Mike Hesson) and head coach (Simon Katich) and the entire support group are aware of a long break and ergo planning regarding the length of practice times, humidity, Temperature and recovery is something we have. We work as a team, “said Basu.
“There is no foolproof algorithm for this, but we are taking a sensible approach.”
All teams are gradually increasing the intensity of practice sessions, as players and especially fast pitchers are more prone to injury after probably the longest break of their careers.
Basu said the pacemaker workload will be carefully monitored during the course of the IPL.
“Our bowling coach (Adam Griffith) has come up with a specific plan related to loads in the first 2 weeks and that will be used as a model,” he said.
“The players have done a lot of physical work and complementing the skills and choosing the correct exercises to achieve balance will provide the impetus that all bowlers need,” Basu said.
“Almost everyone had access to the gym (at least at home), so that will not worry us at all,” he said.
Players are getting used to the extreme heat conditions in the UAE and proper recovery and diet will go a long way to keeping them in tip-top shape over the course of the 53-day tournament.
“Modern cricketers are very conscious of their eating plans. Hydration, balanced amounts of protein, carbohydrates, and good fats will do the trick and to beat the heat – again, we have our load control system and well-being that will be put to good use, “said Basu when asked about the recommended diet plan under the prevailing conditions.
With the uncertainty looming amid the lockdown, Basu stayed in touch with the RCB players after providing them with a personalized fitness program.
“We weren’t sure of anything at the time. We just made sure everyone had a personalized program based on the equipment they had in their respective homes and congratulations to the guys who diligently reached out,” he added.
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