A former member of India’s cricket coaching staff compared the Indian men’s hockey team to cricket star Virat Kohli in terms of physical fitness and dedication. Speaking after India dominated Kazakhstan 15‑0 in the Men’s Hockey Asia Cup, he remarked:
“Virat, at his level of fitness and dedication, is unique in world cricket. But here, each player is as good as him. This is a team of 18 or 20 Virat Kohlis when it comes to that level of physicality.”
This coach, Paddy Upton, played a significant role in preparing India’s squad during the 2011 Cricket World Cup. He noted that the current hockey team surpasses even the 2011 World Cup-winning Indian cricket team:
“If I compare the dedication to sleeping, eating, training of this team to my time in Indian cricket, these guys are another five leagues above that Indian cricket team.”
Why It Stands Out
- High Praise from a Renowned Coach
Paddy Upton, whose strategies helped India clinch the 2011 World Cup, compared the hockey squad’s commitment to elite cricket standards. - Cross-Sport Comparison Highlights Elite Standards
Drawing parallels between a cricket legend and an entire field hockey team underscores their phenomenal fitness and focus. - Booster for Indian Hockey Morale
Such recognition from a respected cricket coach could elevate the team’s confidence and visibility across sports communities.
This bold comparison not only highlights the Indian men’s hockey team’s rising stature but also signals a new era of athletic excellence, where dedication, discipline, and fitness rival the very best in world sport.
