The big statement of the coach of the Indian hockey team. (Photo- PTI)
Mental conditioning coach of the Indian men’s hockey team Paddy Upton has given a big statement. The fitness and dedication level of the current hockey team is more than the Indian cricket team. Apon, who has also worked with the Indian team that won the Cricket World Cup in 2011, compared the hockey team to star cricketer Virat Kohli and said that this team has players like ’18 -20 Virat Kohli ‘. He made this statement during the ongoing 2025 Hockey Asia Cup in Bihar.
The big statement of the coach of the Indian hockey team
Whenever it comes to the most fit player in the cricket world, Virat Kohli’s name is first taken. Fitness level like him is very few cricketers. But the mental conditioning coach of the Indian men’s hockey team, Paddy Upton, believes that 18 to 20 players in his team are fitness like Virat Kohli. His statement is becoming quite viral.
In a conversation with Mid-Day, Upton said, ‘If I spend this team’s gold, food and training in Indian cricket with my time, then this player is five steps ahead of that Indian cricket team. Virat is unique in world cricket at the level of his fitness and dedication, but every player here is as good as him. It is a team of 18 or 20 Virat Kohli in terms of physical capacity.
Who are Paddy Upton?
Paddy Apon hails from South Africa, who is known for the mental conditioning of players besides cricket coaching. Paddy Upton has worked in different games during his brilliant career. Upon was part of India’s associate staff of Head Coach Gary Kirsten during India’s campaign to win the 2011 Cricket World Cup. He was also part of the Indian hockey team that won the bronze medal at the Paris Olympics. Last year, the World Chase Championship held in Singapore was won by D Gukesh of India. Paddy Upton played an important role in making Gukesh a chase world champion. Paddy Apon made him mentally and physically strong.
