According to former fast-bowler Dale Steyn, Virat Kohli maintains his elite fitness even while living in London. During a conversation the night before the first ODI against South Africa in Ranchi, Steyn asked Kohli: “What do you do, because you play just one format?” To this, Kohli replied simply: “I live in London now.” Steyn explained that living there gives Kohli access to “great facilities at Lord’s Cricket Ground, at Surrey, and he goes to practice too. There’s a trainer he works with.”
This setup — combining proximity to top-class grounds and a dedicated trainer — ensures that Kohli continues training regularly even though he no longer plays Tests or T20 Internationals. Steyn emphasised that such consistency plays a major role in keeping him “in tip-top condition all the time.”
Consistent training schedule
Steyn’s comments shed light on how Kohli sustains his conditioning: according to reports, he trains around four times a week in London, alternating between Lord’s and another venue (often Surrey or the Oval), where he does both batting throwdowns and fielding practice.
Such a disciplined schedule helps explain Kohli’s sharpness during the first ODI, where at age 37 — long after retiring from other formats — he delivered a stunning 135-run innings.
Steyn said that beyond physical readiness, Kohli’s mental preparedness is equally strong — that when you look at him, you can see someone who is always “well prepared … mentally super strong.”
Professionalism, mindset and performance
Steyn didn’t hesitate to call Kohli a “true professional.” He praised the batter for being fully committed, despite the reduced workload, noting that his experience — over 15–16 years and 300-plus ODIs — enabled him to “know his game … how he goes about scoring his runs.”
Kohli, for his part, reiterated that he doesn’t believe in “a lot of prep.” In his post-match remarks, he emphasised that “all my cricket has been mental. I work physically very hard … as long as my fitness levels are up … and then you visualise batting and feeling well, it’s good.”
This combination of disciplined training, access to elite facilities, and a strong mental approach seems to be the key behind Kohli’s longevity and ability to perform at high levels — even at an age when many players slow down.
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