Rishabh Pant is one of the highest scoring batters in IPL 2024© BCCI/Sportzpics
Wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant made a stunning comeback to the Indian team and earned a deserved call-up for the 2024 T20 World Cup as the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced the squad for the big event on Tuesday. Pant, who has emerged as one of the best players in this IPL, had to make a lot of sacrifices to be fully fit for the T20 World Cup. After a disciplined regimen, Pant not only said goodbye to his favorite foods but also opted for a strict sleep schedule to help his body recover quickly.
According to a report in Times of India, Pant followed a strict calorie deficit program for which he had to give up his favorite foods like fried chicken, rasmalai and biryani. But he couldn't give up the cold chicken, which was then prepared with just 5ml of extra virgin olive oil.
“He had been on a calorie deficit diet since December. If his body needed 1,400 calories a day, he was getting about 1,000 calories. It was tough for him because he had to train very hard to get competitively fit and strengthen the muscles. his injured right leg,” a source involved in Pant's rehabilitation told TOI.
“Pant wanted flavor in his food. So, during his stay at the NCA, he moved to a rented house in Bengaluru, instead of a hotel. He preferred home-cooked food. He was allowed to use only 5 ml of extra virgin olive oil. He could not giving up his love for cold chicken. That's why a recipe was developed to make it with so much oil. Goan bhindi was one of his favorites,” a source told the newspaper.
The report also claims that Pant has lost around 16 kg in the last four months, and this was possible because of the strict sleep schedule he followed.
“All gadgets, including phones, iPads and TVs, were switched off at 11 am. He had to sleep for eight-nine hours uninterruptedly to start another rigorous workout the next morning,” the report quoted a source as saying.
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