Sports professionals must not only maintain their fitness, but they must make it a lifestyle and continue to improve. They are committed to their strict lifestyle, just like Virat Kohli! The former Indian captain turned 36 on November 5 and his fitness is commendable. Not only as an athlete and cricketer, but also as an individual.

Virat has time and again advocated the importance of fitness and diet which should be focused on as well. A major player for Royal Challengers Bangalore in the IPL, the cricketer is admired for his performances, especially for his record-breaking performance in the 2023 World Cup. His fitness at the age of 36 is a testimony to his unwavering commitment to his lifestyle. Here’s everything you need to know about Virat’s diet that contributes to his overall health.

From rice to lentils, this is what Virat chooses to eat

“When you figure out your fitness journey, you try to figure out all kinds of things, vitamins, extra hydration, protein, this, that, to the point where you understand this is what works for me. It’s the right balance,” shared Virat in an interview with Star Sports.

Explaining why eating right is more important than working out for hours at the gym, he said: “The fundamental challenge I felt in terms of fitness is food. You can go to the gym and work hard… But with food it’s very different. You have taste buds, and it has to do with your own mind wanting something and not wanting something. Speaking about his commitment to a strict diet, he said: “I can eat the same thing for the next six months, three times a day. I have no problem.”

What does Virat Kohli’s diet include?

Virat is a typical Delhi boy at heart and in a video which continues to circulate on social media, Virat was once asked what his favorite food was and he said that he likes ‘Chole Bhature’ but what he hadn’t touched it for months. He also shared that once he and Anushka indulged their cravings and enjoyed Chole Bhaturas, but they also spent 2 hours at the gym that day, losing every calorie. This is the balance!

Virat’s daily diet does not include many masalas. He eats simple, boiled food, seasoned only with salt, black pepper and lime juice. He is not very particular about his preferences and has stated that he can eat the same food for days.

He shared his preferences with Star Sports during his Test series in England and said: “90% of my food is all steamed and boiled. No masala. Just salt, pepper and lime, that’s how I eat. I’m not a big fan of the taste of food, I don’t care what it tastes like. I like salads with a little vinaigrette. Grilling in a pan is good with a little olive oil or something else. No curry, I only eat dal (lentils), but no masala curry. However, I eat rajma and lobhiya; because a Punjabi cannot ignore them,” he told Star Sports during his Test series in England.

What foods does Virat avoid?

In 2018, Virat faced a health issue where he faced severe acidity and increased uric acid levels in his body. His bones were found to have calcium depletion, which led to his comfort. It was then that he decided to eliminate meat from his diet and became a vegetarian.

Virat avoids eating curries, fried foods and foods with excess masalas. In an interview with Curly Tales, he also stated that he is not completely vegan since he consumes some dairy products.