Cricket used to have a pretty laidback attitude when it came to fitness levels of the players. Unlike football or rugby, it’s a sport that never required intense physical engagement or focus on food habits, and players prioritised working on the technical side of their games rather than keeping fit. But a lot has changed since the advent of T20, a format built on power-hitting and where immense athleticism on the field can easily swing the balance of the game.

Virat Kohli is largely credited for bringing a fitness revolution to the Indian cricket team. Kohli introduced Yo-Yo Test to Indian cricket, and it became a benchmark of fitness for players. Players like Varun Chakravarthy and Prithvi Shaw were dropped from the squad after they failed the Yo-Yo Test.

Kohli also maintains a strict diet plan to remain at the top of the game. This, however, doesn’t seem to be everyone’s cup of tea, Suryakumar Yadav revealed the quirky eating habits of Rishabh Pant and Ishan Kishan.

Both Pant and Kishan are known for their inventive batting, but this creativity is not restricted to the field. Suryakumar Yadav recently revealed that the two wicket-keepers often try unusual food combinations. 

“He’s [Pant] is incredible. If these [Pant and Kishan] two get together, then it’s next level. I’ve spent a lot of time with them in the past 7 months. When they are together, it’s out of control,” Yadav said on Gaurav Kapoor’s show Breakfast with Champions’.

“They dip a bun in ice-cream and eat it. They put chocolate ice-cream on bread, then put Nando’s sauce on that. Only thing left was to put a piece of chicken. This is the combination, which in their eyes is a burger,” he added. 

Yadav also revealed how he is often forced to try out these weird combinations. 

“They tell me ‘Eat it. you’ll score runs tomorrow’. It’s a new thing they have started. That’s how low they can stoop for food. The two are unreal, clean hearts, complete pure souls. You’ll have a lot of fun spending time with them.”