Virat Kohli is widely regarded as one of the fittest cricketers in the world today, but that wasn't always the case. Before becoming the face of discipline and elite fitness, the former India captain enjoyed indulging in his favourite comfort foods without paying much attention to a strict diet. Recently, former BCCI chef Arun Chauhan revealed how Kohli completely transformed his eating habits over the years, crediting both his admiration for football legend Cristiano Ronaldo and lifestyle changes that reshaped his career.

Virat Kohli once loved chole bhature and oily food

Speaking on Vaarun Tiwari's YouTube podcast, former BCCI chef Arun Chauhan shared that Kohli was a complete foodie during the early years of his career. Chauhan, who has cooked for cricketing legends including Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly, Virender Sehwag and MS Dhoni, recalled that Kohli enjoyed almost every kind of food.

According to Chauhan, the young batter loved oily meals, non-vegetarian dishes and North Indian favourites such as chole bhature and rajma chawal. Even while staying at hotels during tours, he often preferred these comfort foods. The chef said Kohli did not follow any structured diet in those days and simply ate what he liked.

However, that approach gradually changed as Kohli became more serious about fitness and athletic performance.

Cristiano Ronaldo inspired a complete fitness overhaul

Chauhan said one of the biggest influences behind Kohli's transformation was football icon Cristiano Ronaldo. He explained that, "He has now worked on his fitness. He is a big fan of Ronaldo. He follows Ronaldo. And in the entire world, Ronaldo is the only one who has minimal body fat. And in the future, it will be Virat Kohli. So, who you follow has made a difference."

According to the chef, Kohli slowly overhauled his eating habits. He first gave up meat and became a vegetarian before adopting an even cleaner approach to nutrition. Today, his meals are centred on wholesome, nutrient-rich foods instead of calorie-heavy comfort dishes.

Chauhan revealed that Kohli now prefers "tofu instead of paneer, salads, sprouts, dal, and English vegetables like lettuce. He eats more of that."

The dramatic lifestyle shift has helped Kohli remain one of the leanest and fittest athletes in international cricket, even at the age of 37.

Anushka Sharma also played an important role

While Ronaldo influenced Kohli's fitness mindset, the cricketer has previously credited wife Anushka Sharma for inspiring his decision to embrace vegetarianism.

Over the years, Kohli has spoken about how Anushka's compassion towards animals and her own vegetarian lifestyle encouraged him to rethink his food choices. In earlier interviews, he said meeting Anushka changed him not just physically but personally as well, making him a calmer and more balanced individual.

Kohli also addressed a common misconception about his diet in 2021. Many fans believed he had become vegan, but the cricketer clarified on social media that he is vegetarian, not vegan.

He has also described switching to a vegetarian diet as one of the best decisions of his life, saying the change made him feel so much better that he wished he had adopted it earlier.