Virat Kohli's dedication to fitness has long been a talking point in Indian sport and now football icon Sunil Chhetri has drawn a striking comparison between the former India captain and Cristiano Ronaldo.
Chhetri recently shared insights on Kohli's training mindset. He believes the two global stars share the same drive to keep raising their standards even after years at the top.
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His remarks highlight how Kohli's fitness-first approach continues to inspire not just cricketers but athletes across disciplines.
Virat Kohli's fitness scores leave Sunil Chhetri impressed
Speaking on The Desi PL Podcast, Chhetri revealed that Kohli had recently sent him the results of one of his fitness tests. According to a Dainik Jagran report, while several Indian cricketers underwent assessments at the BCCI's Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru, Kohli completed his test in London.
"A few days back, he (Kohli) was sending me his scores of one of the tests he was doing. It is so addictive, and it is so good to know these kinds of people. On your bad days when you feel a bit lethargic, you see them and think, 'let’s go'. When you are at the top, everyone wants to be a Virat Kohli or Ronaldo, and for these two to keep their place is unbelievable," Chhetri said.
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Chhetri has often spoken about learning from elite athletes - drew a parallel between Kohli and Ronaldo. He felt both men show an ability to reset quickly - never dwelling too long on past highs or lows.
"The one common thing about these two is that they are just not happy with what they have already achieved. Whatever happened today, gaya (it is over). Otherwise, how does a Virat Kohli or Ronaldo get up and again be at their best? It is not easy. When you are successful for so long, when you have won almost everything, to still get up and do what they are doing is unbelievable," he added.
Kohli announced his retirement from Test cricket in May 2025. He has often spoken about his admiration for Ronaldo.
He even admitted to switching football loyalties from Manchester United to Manchester City after Ronaldo's departure from Old Trafford in 2022.
Chhetri's reflections underline how Kohli's obsession with self-improvement mirrors Ronaldo's - a quality that has kept both men at the pinnacle of their sports for well over a decade.