Virat Kohli, Gautam Gambhir for India. Image Credits: AFP
Virat Kohli has been the fitness role model for many youngsters who aspire to be cricketers or be fit in general. At 37 years of age, Kohli glides on the field like a teenager, and it reflects on his lofty leaps on the grass.
As Kohli is currently playing in IPL 2026 for his team, the Royal Challengers Bengaluru, an unprecedented challenge was warranted against him.
Notably, Indian hockey stars Hardik Singh and Manpreet Singh openly invited Virat Kohli and the whole RCB team to a Yo-Yo test challenge, which measures the fitness intensity of cricketing athletes.
What Is A Yo-Yo Test?
To be precise, a Yo-Yo Test is a metric that measures how well an athlete can perform high-intensity workouts with very short recovery periods. This is a benchmark testing tool primarily used in cricket, football and rugby.
Used to measure a player's aerobic capacity, cardiovascular strength, and stamina, this is considered one of the strictest and toughest tests the Board of Control for Cricket in India has ever imposed.
What Is Virat Kohli’s Record In Yo-Yo Test?
The BCCI have a set benchmark score of 16.1 to pass the Yo-Yo Test; however, the fitness role model Kohli has broken that passing limit multiple times.
Under BCCI’s supervision, Virat has made a record that no other Indian cricket ever had, that is a score of 21.6. Even at the age of 36, Virat clocked in a 17.2, which easily surpasses many modern-day youngsters in the test too.
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Why Kohli Has Been Invited For A Fitness Challenge?
Just a few days ago, Virat Kohli had appreciated the Indian hockey team's fitness while speaking candidly in the RCB Innovation Lab.
“Cricket is in such prime focus in our country that we often overlook other sports. If I am being honest, we aren’t even 15% of the fitness of an Indian hockey player. If the hockey players watch our training sessions, they would laugh because their sport demands far more,” Kohli said during the interview.
Trailing the conversation, in an exclusive interview with RevSportz Global, the Indian hockey stars Manpreet and Hardik casually threw a challenge to Kohli and the whole RCB team.
Virat Kohli Gets Open Fitness Challenge
Revsportz representative Boria Majumdar asked whether Manpreet can compete with Virat in a Yo-Yo Test, or not to which the hockey star replied positively.
“Yes, of course, I invite him [Virat Kohli] openly. Please come with the whole RCB team; our team will be here as well. We can compete against each other,” Manpreet said.
However, the duo also appreciated how difficult cricket as a sport is while welcoming the opportunity to share a training session together.
“But their game is also very difficult. The ball comes very fast, right? If we are asked to bat, it will be very tough for us to face a 150kph delivery,” the duo added.
“I think we should do it and it will be very good for the sport. If we interact with each other across sports categories, it will always be a great exchange, so yes, we are looking forward to it,” Hardik said.
Kohli’s RCB Onward To Defend Title
Meanwhile, Virat Kohli and his team have already qualified for the IPL 2026 playoffs and are currently in the fight for a top-two finish with the Gujarat Titans. Whether they will be able to play Qualifier 1 will depend on their performance in their final group-stage fixture.
RCB will play their last group stage match against Sunrisers Hyderabad on May 22 at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium. If they win the match, a Top-2 finish will be qualified with 20 points under their belt.
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