Having made his India debut in 2008, Virat Kohli has never missed a World Cup and looks in great shape ahead of the T20 World Cup 2024.

Mumbai: BCCI chief selector Ajit Agarkar emphasized on the ripple effect that Virat Kohli had on the younger cricketers through his fitness. The former India captain might be 35, but when it comes to fitness, the Delhi boy remains second to none to perform the most difficult fitness drills. Having made his debut in 2008, Kohli, who didn’t miss a World Cup since then, gradually became an inspiration for youngsters.

Agarkar, who was a part of India’s 2007 T20 World Cup winning team, cited Kohli’s fitness as an example that progressed across the cricketing system in India. “You look at guys like Virat (Kohli), he is one of those guys who set the benchmark. 10-15 years into his career, he has only got fitter, you can see the results,” Agarkar told on SportifywithPRG.

“If someone like him sets an example and puts forward certain things that you need or certain fitness levels that you need, gradually it progresses across the ecosystem. Gradually it has progressed (to the younger generation). The one difference you have seen over the last 15-20 years or so is the fitness levels of players,” he added.

Following the Afghanistan T20I series earlier this year, Kohli took a two-month break to be by his new-born boy before returning to IPL 2024. In the ongoing tournament, the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) stalwart smashed a record-extending eighth century in IPL, while also leading the run charts with 316 from five games so far.

Agarkar also said that the IPL had become a huge platform to spot talent but what mattered most was a strong temperament, which would set them apart from the rest. “You can see it, (IPL) keeps throwing up players out of the blue. Having been a selector for a few months, there are certain players who suddenly come and show even on the big stage.

“IPL is a fairly big stage because of the pressures involved, big crowds. You might be bowling to the top batters in the world, or you might be facing one of the top bowlers in the world, and that’s when you stand up and that’s where you judge the temperament of a player, whether he can do it consistently,” said the former India all-rounder.