India wicketkeeper-batter Sanju Samson has revealed he attempted to mirror the disciplined routine of team-mate Virat Kohli, but admits the strict regimen lasted only about a year. The revelation, made on JioStar’s show Believe, sheds light on how elite sporting standards around diet, training and daily habits can be difficult to maintain even for top professionals.
Following a gold standard — briefly
Samson described how, during an Indian team camp, he trained alongside Kohli and sought guidance on the habits that underpinned the senior player’s long-term success. Kohli, who is widely regarded as a benchmark for contemporary fitness and professional conduct in cricket, is reported to have emphasised the role of consistent discipline and specific dietary choices in his career.
"This food will help your body recover, this would not. If you maintain this discipline for the next 10 years, you will have a great career ahead,"
Samson said he adopted Kohli’s recommendations and sustained the approach for around a year to a year and a half, but ultimately did not continue. He paid tribute to Kohli’s directness and the intensity he brings to training, noting the senior player’s clarity when advising teammates.
Context: elite routines and individual limits
The exchange highlights a tension common in professional sport: while some athletes thrive on strict regimens, others find such routines difficult to sustain long-term. Samson’s account underlines that even those at the highest level may experiment with different approaches before settling on what works for them personally.
- Advice received: disciplined lifestyle, diet tailored for recovery and consistent habits.
- Duration of attempt: around one to one-and-a-half years.
- Outcome: Samson did not maintain the regimen beyond that period.
Mental strain and selection pressures
Samson also discussed the psychological pressures that accompanied a turbulent selection period. He opened up about the mental challenge of losing his place as India’s first-choice wicketkeeper-batter to Ishan Kishan ahead of the T20 World Cup. The admission provides a candid glimpse into how selection decisions can affect players’ wellbeing and confidence.
Elite athletes are often expected to combine peak physical conditioning with mental resilience; Samson’s comments illustrate how those demands can collide. While discipline and diet are frequently advocated as keys to longevity in sport, coping with disappointment and changes in selection status remains a distinct and sometimes overlooked component of a professional athlete’s life.
What this means for fans and aspiring players
For supporters and young cricketers, the exchange between Samson and Kohli offers a realistic lesson: there is no single, universally applicable formula for success. Professional routines may provide a blueprint, but individual circumstances, preferences and mental health all shape whether such approaches are adoptable over the long term.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Who | Sanju Samson and Virat Kohli |
| Platform | JioStar's Believe (interview) |
| Duration of Samson's attempt | About one to one-and-a-half years |
| Selection note | Samson lost the first-choice keeper spot to Ishan Kishan ahead of the T20 World Cup |
Samson’s comments prompt a wider conversation about how teams and coaches support players navigating demanding physical expectations alongside mental wellbeing. If anything, the episode demonstrates that personal adaptation—not imitation—may be the truest path to sustainable performance.
Analysis and reporting based on Samson’s appearance on JioStar’s Believe and public statements made during that interview.
