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"Only Virat Kohli Would Last": Paddy Upton Says India Team Lacks Hockey-Level Fitness

Jatin

Virat Kohli is one of the fittest cricketers [Source: @CricCrazyJohns/x.com]Virat Kohli is one of the fittest cricketers [Source: @CricCrazyJohns/x.com]

When it comes to fitness, Virat Kohli has always set the gold standard in Indian cricket. But now, he has earned another feather in his cap.

Paddy Upton Calls Virat Kohli The Only Cricketer Who Could Match Hockey Fitness

Mental conditioning coach Paddy Upton, who has worked with India across cricket, hockey, and even chess, has claimed that Virat Kohli is the only cricketer who could survive a training session with the Indian hockey team. That is a huge compliment, considering the hockey boys are some of the fittest athletes around.

Comparing the fitness levels of cricketers and hockey players in a conversation with India Today, Upton didn’t mince his words.

"You can't even compare the two teams. I wouldn't even begin to compare them. It's just a completely different sport. What I'd love to do is bring the Indian cricket team to come and do a half training session with the hockey team, and I think you'll see the cricket team will all be lying on the floor. The only person who will last more than half a training session would be Virat Kohli, I think," said Upton.

That is high praise, but not surprising for anyone who has followed Kohli’s career. He has built his game on elite fitness levels, transforming himself into one of the sharpest fielders and most consistent batters of his generation.

Kohli Stands Out Yet Again

While cricket is often a stop-start sport, hockey demands relentless running and stamina. Upton even went a step further, putting into perspective just how gruelling hockey fitness is.

"These guys are 18 Virat Kohli's from a fitness perspective, where in the cricket team there's only 1 Virat Kohli from a fitness perspective," he added.

It is a line that sums up both Kohli’s unmatched discipline and the sheer intensity of hockey training. While most cricketers might struggle to get through half a session, Kohli, as always, seems to be in a league of his own.

From lifting heavy bats to running hard singles, Kohli has shown over the years that fitness is the backbone of his cricket. And now, with Upton’s remarks, his reputation has crossed sporting boundaries.