Whenever the Indian cricket team is on ground, the whole country comes together to cheer for ‘Team Blue.’ Whether it’s in front of the TV or at stadiums, fans can’t control their excitement when it comes to cricket. Having said that, when it comes to the World Cup, the excitement reaches a whole new level. India’s win in the 2024 T20 World Cup final had everyone biting their nails. And who can forget Suryakumar Yadav’s stunning catch to dismiss David Miller in the final over? That, according to many, was ‘the moment’ of the match, including the then Captain Rohit Sharma. The pride to see team India lifting the trophy is something none of us will ever forget.
But while we all remember such landmark wins, have you ever thought of the effort, discipline, and hard work that goes before the match which includes staying fit. Cricketer, no matter what, have to stick to strict training routines, avoid junk food, and follow a workout routine even while travelling for matches or even during their vacations. So how do they do it? How do they manage their diet and workout routine while travelling between tournaments and how is it different from the vacations?
At a recent Skyscanner event, Suryakumar Yadav, popularly called SKY, shared how he manages to maintain his diet and fitness while travelling with The Financial Express.
SKY’s approach to fitness and diet while travelling
In an exclusive interview with The Financial Express, he revealed the routine he follows during tournaments and off-season breaks.
He said, “If you go on any vacation or book a hotel, you get a good gym. You find a place to do a good training session. It depends on you if you actually wanna do it during the holiday or not. But if it’s between the seasons, when there is no off season, that time I make sure to use a gym or use the ground or even use beaches for the run to keep myself fit. That’s when I don’t miss any workout session.”
Talking about long breaks, SKY added, “Otherwise, if it’s a complete off-season and I’m on a long holiday, there’s no room for training or diet. I go completely off diet. But during the season, if I get a 10-day or 15-day break and I’m going on a holiday somewhere, I try to avoid junk food and prefer eating healthy meals that are high in protein, low in carbs, and aligned with my training. I may also train on alternate days.”
‘Balance is the key’
SKY’s approach shows the kind of dedication required to stay at the top. Even when away from home, he makes sure to train and eat healthy whenever possible. At the same time, he enjoys his breaks where he goes all out and eats whatever he craves for. ‘Balancing it out matters the most, otherwise, all the efforts will go in vain,’ SKY further said.
It shows that every catch, match-winning shot, and victory is a result of months of preparation, self-discipline, and lifestyle choices.