NEW DELHI – India skipper Virat Kohli will begin his first ever countystint when he will join Surrey next month and England all-rounder MoeenAli, who is also a part of Royal Challengers Bangalore in the IPL, saidthat Kohli is a “proper big dog.”
“I know a few of the Surrey guys and they are not what people make them outto be a lot of the time. But if anyone in that dressing room does thinkthey are a big dog, they will need to sit down for a little while becausethere is a proper big dog coming,” Moeen was quoted as saying by ‘TheGuardian’.
Talking about the RCB skipper, Ali said that Kohli is one of the mosthumble cricketers. “You see him on the field and people might think he’sarrogant but it is the complete opposite. He’s so humble it is almost weirdhow nice he is. He’s the biggest name in India but will ring me to checkI’m OK or ask if I fancy lunch. Sometimes a player will invite the squad totheir house for a meal and it would be easy for him to say no. But he wouldalways go. I can say with certainty that anyone who has a bad word doesn’tknow the guy,” he said.
Another England and RCB all-rounder Chris Woakes also added that Kohli is“very calm” off the field and it’s his passion for the game that comes outwhile playing.
“You have your perceptions of someone like Virat, who is quite passionate,emotional, in your face and plays it hard. But off the field he’s very calmand you can chat about anything. “He’s very down to earth and for someonewho has such huge pressures and public focus in India, to see him go abouthis business in this way quite refreshing,” Woakes said.
Woakes revealed that Kohli is looking forward to his first Countystint. “In my first year of IPL I found as an overseas player you get a lotof attention walking through airports in India. But having him in the team– the No 1, the king – we’re almost irrelevant. It makes you realise whathis life is like. So county cricket will be much more chilled and he’llenjoy that. Playing at smaller grounds, that will be an experience too.Having spoken to him about it, he loves touring other countries – it’s arelease.”
Kohli is well-known for his fitness regime and the right-hander told thathe goes for a “priming session” in the gym 30 minutes before the team busleaves the hotel for the match.
“Around 30 minutes before the bus leaves for a match, he does what he callsa ‘priming session’ in the gym. It’s like a short burst of Olympicweightlifting. It’s certainly different but it works for him. Overall, hisfitness work is having a serious impact on the next generation of Indianplayers. He’s leaner, fitter, more agile than those before,” Woakes told.