Kohli's changed Indian cricket: McCullum

Retired New Zealand great Brendon McCullum believes Virat Kohli has "changed the game", describing the India captain as a pioneer in his country for his professionalism and fitness.

McCullum, in Brisbane to captain the Heat in the upcoming KFC Big Bash League season, said Kohli's feats in all three formats and the manner in which he has set about achieving them have set a new benchmark for cricketers, inspiring his countrymen to prepare and perform to similar levels in the process.

"If you're looking for one name on a scoresheet anywhere in the world to play in all sorts of conditions, gee it'd be pretty hard to go past Virat Kohli I'd say," McCullum told cricket.com.au.

"He's a freak. You look at his impact on one-day cricket, Test cricket, T20 cricket – all around the world, different conditions.

"And it's just effortless as well.

"He's also changed the game a little bit with his impact on Indian cricket already … (through) his levels of fitness.

"If we look at Indian cricket over a period of time, they've always been immensely talented, but just with the high intensity he operates at on a consistent basis, he's taken that to a new level through his professionalism and his fitness.

"And I think you've seen a whole raft of cricketers since he's come on as captain as well really take that in their stride, and the IPL has been a catalyst for that as well."

Kohli registered his first double century in Test cricket in June and has added another two since, equalling the mark McCullum had shared with Australians Don Bradman, Ricky Ponting and Michael Clarke for the most double hundreds in a calendar year.

His three 200-plus scores in his past 10 Tests, as well as a 167, are testament to not only his ability as a batsman but also his conditioning.

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The 28-year-old, whose Test average passed 50 for the first time in his career after his match-winning 235 against England in Mumbai last week, regularly preaches the importance of a healthy balance revolving around eating, sleeping and training.

After his match-winning 82 not out against Australia in the World T20 in March, he referred back to his fitness base as key to his performance.

"That's why you do those fitness regimes, those sprints, and all the other tests that you go through," he said.

"It all helps. I like to train for when I'm tired – I should be able to run as fast as when I'm on zero and I think that training paid off today."

Kohli has been no stranger to on-field confrontation throughout his career but McCullum, who earned a reputation as one of cricket's finest sportsmen in the twilight years of his time in charge of New Zealand, believes the Indian has found the balance between fierce competitiveness and outright insolence.

"He's an out-and-out superstar and he plays the game in the right way – he plays it hard on the field but he never really crosses the line I don't think, unless challenged in a different way," he said.

"But he's an absolute superstar and I think the game is lucky to have him."

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