XtraTime Web Desk: Kolkata Knight Rider’s cricketers are having some strenuous time during quarantine in UAE courtesy the team’s new physical trainer Chris Donaldson. The Knight Rider’s cricketers have been made to sweat even in the comfort of their hotel rooms.
Donaldson, a former Olympic Sprinter from New Zealand, has come on board as KKR’s Strength and Conditioning coach for IPL 2020, and he’s making sure all our players are in top-notch shape with his special Bedroom-Workout Routines over Group Video Calls during Quarantine.
Donaldson represented his country at the 1996 and 2000 Summer Olympics, besides competing in the 1998 and 2006 Commonwealth Games. He was part of the 4 x 100m relay team that holds a national record till date. Since retiring from his sport, Donaldson has worked as a trainer for the New Zealand Cricket team before signing up with Kolkata Knight Riders this year.
“When Baz (Brendon McCullum) told me that Chris Donaldson was coming aboard, he spoke very highly of him and said ‘I don’t know about the cricketers, but you definitely will love him’ because I love training. So far, I have absolutely enjoyed it,” Abhishek Nayar, the KKR Team Mentor said in a recent chat with kkr.in.
Nayar added, “The guys are now getting to know him. There have been some unbelievable workouts he has given everyone to do. They are hard, and if you haven’t worked out for a while, you can’t do it. Sore bodies for a couple of days. But it’s amazing and very, very helpful for all the boys in this time of staying indoors.”
KKR Head Coach Brendon McCullum, who has been training as hard as the players, said: “I can’t ask the players to do what I can’t do, right? So whilst I can’t do the exercises as well as them, I certainly try to put in an effort.”
“I’ve also heard that the shirts this year – all the practice shirts and coach’s shirts – are going to be very, very tight. So, I need to make sure that I am not too fat as we get into the season,” he quipped.
KKR players reached Abu Dhabi on August 20, and are currently spending their time in isolation as per the government of UAE and the IPL SOP guidelines. IPL 2020 gets underway on September 19.