Ex-chief selector Sandeep reveals WI tour occurrence and credits retired Test star for fostering a fitness culture in Team India
Then chief selector Sandeep Patil with Virat Kohli in 2016. Pic/AFP
Ever heard of a travelling chief selector being told by the captain of a touring team that he should come for gym sessions? This is exactly what happened to Sandeep Patil on his one and only overseas tour as India’s chairman of selectors — in the West Indies in 2016.
Patil, who was chairman from 2012 to 2016, told mid-day on Monday that Kohli urged him to hit the gym in Antigua, where India won the opening Test of the four-match series by an innings and 92 runs.
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“That trip coincided with my 60th birthday. I had to borrow [fellow selector] Vikram Rathour’s trainers.” Patil revealed this with a slight chuckle while explaining how serious Kohli was about his, and the team’s fitness levels. “Kohli wanted every player to be 100 per cent fit and he led by example. I would see him being the first to enter, and the last to leave the gym. He changed the fitness scenario in Indian cricket. Many a time I saw him exchanging notes with Shankar Basu [Indian team’s former strength and conditioning coach], checking if each player was following his regime. The levels and advantages of fitness were seen on the field be it Tests, ODIs or T20 games. Kohli deserves 100 per cent credit for the current fielding standards, running between wickets and stamina,” said Patil, who watched Kohli from his U-19 days when he was the National Cricket Academy director before becoming chief selector. “He changed from a brash young man to a responsible individual when he was poised to take over from MS Dhoni. Who changed him, I don’t know but he must have realised that he has to change and what a tremendous transformation it was.”
Passion was another aspect that Kohli attracted accolades for. “I have not seen an Indian cricketer with so much passion to play and win. His enthusiasm was infectious, he lifted his team. He also faced a lot of criticism but when you are so involved, there will be controversy. I don’t blame him,” said Patil.
Kohli’s decision to quit means India will not have his services on next month’s five-match Test tour to England. “Yes, we will miss him. It’s sad that we won’t see him in Test colours, but we must accept and respect his decision,” Patil signed off.
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