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You can take a Delhite out of Delhi but can never take Delhi out of a Delhite. Indeed, the saying fits perfectly for Virat Kohli, who is going to add yet another feather to his cap by joining the elite list of batters who have played 100 or more Test matches. When India takes on Sri Lanka in the first of two Test match series in Mohali, Kohli will become the 12th Indian batter to achieve this rare feat, with several other batting records to his name.
Kohli's teammates from U19 days, Pradeep Sangwan, recently recalled how Virat Kohli is still the same guy from Delhi who used to play with him in their early days. In conversation with Indian Express, Sangwan recalled, "I met Virat recently in some function, I thought he might have changed as he was like a nice boy in front of Anushka. As soon as she met someone, Delhi ka Virat Kohli was back to talking in the same old style".
Adding further, Sangwan also recalled that Kohli's transformation is nothing less than magic as the former skipper was once obsessed with chicken and Mutton-rice. Sangwan revealed that Kohli would even walk miles to go to various food joints; the only thing that mattered was the taste." Adding further, Sangwan went on to say that Kohli's transformation started just before the 50 overs World Cup in 2010.
"In 2010, everything was different when he came to play for the Delhi Ranji team. He was eating boiled food! He wouldn't drink more than 200 ml of liquid at a time. Rice-mutton curry had been replaced with diet food. I was surprised at how much he had changed himself," he added.
Sangwan also said that when he met Kohli during the IPL, Kohli never missed his fitness regime. Sangwan recalls, "Most of the time, I saw him working out in the gym. His focus was way ahead of all of us. Cricketers often get lazy and have a 'cheat day', but Virat would never do that."
