"Weighed 117 kilos then...!" - Popular CSK player's inspirational fitness journey!

The Gujarat Titans are the first team to advance to the play-off round with 18 points after beating Lucknow in the ongoing IPL yesterday.

The Gujarat Titans were playing for the first time in the current series. Gujarat team is advancing to the play-off round as fast as it came.

For the other 3 places in the play-off round, all but 8 teams have a chance in some way.

Of these, the Chennai Super Kings, led by Dhoni, have played 11 matches and won only four. Even if they win the remaining 3 matches, Chennai's play - off chances will be assured only if they win some other matches. In such a predicament, CSK is forced to accumulate a series of victories.

Defending champions CSK have fans hoping to advance to the next round somehow. In this situation, a young player who has been featured in the Chennai team talking about the difficulties he has faced in his fitness journey has caught the attention of many.

Maheesh Theekshana revealed that he weighed 117 kgs during his Under-19 days and had to work harder to reach his current fitness level. The 21-year-old has been one of the key performers for the Chennai Super Kings this season.

In a video shared by the Chennai Super Kings on their Youtube Channel, the Sri Lankan cricketer opened up about his fitness issues initially, and how he overcame those. Maheesh also revealed that he failed fitness tests and hence did not get to play for the U19 team. He said:

“I was 117 kg at that time (U-19 days), so I had to work harder to get my weight and skin folds down in the yo-yo test. In 2020, I got everything down and brought my fitness to the (required) level. I started to do more hard work on my body.”

“In 2017-18, I was in the U-19 squad, but I did not get a chance to play because I failed fitness tests a few times. In 2019, I had to be a water boy for 10 games in three-day matches. So I knew that if I failed, I would have to carry the water bottles again. But I kept believing in myself and had that never-say-die attitude. That’s why I am here in 2022,” added Maheesh Theekshana.

The 8th Behindwoods Gold Medals Awards will be held this year on May 15 and 22 at the Island Grounds in Chennai from 6pm to 11.30pm. Ticket booking for this is currently underway.

Event ticket pre-booking link .. https://behindwoods.com/bgm8