18-20 Virat Kohlis Play In It: India's World Cup Winning Coach On His New Team

The fitness levels of modern-day great Indian batter Virat Kohli is considered the gold standard in world cricket at the moment. To imagine a team filled with 18-20 Kohlis would be the ultimate dream. 

But World Cup-winning mental conditioning coach, Paddy Upton, who was associated with the Indian unit in their successful 2011 ODI World Cup campaign at home, has found one such team. 

“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,” Upton was quoted as saying to Mid-Day, while describing the Indian national hockey men’s team’s fitness levels. 

“If I compare the dedication to sleeping, eating, and training of this team to my time in Indian cricket, these guys are another five leagues above that Indian cricket team,” added the South African, who was associated with Indian hockey in their 2024 Olympics Bronze medal-winning campaign. He rejoined the team just ahead of their latest competition. 

The Indian men’s hockey team is currently taking part in the Asia Cup in Rajgir, Bihar. Kohli, on the other hand, is in England, preparing for India’s next ODI outing in Australia. He has already retired from T20Is and Test cricket.