New Delhi: Paddy Upton, the mental conditioning coach of the Indian men’s hockey team, has said the Harmanpreet Singh-led side is leagues above in fitness and dedication compared to the 2011 ODI World Cup-winning Indian men’s cricket team. Upton was part of former India head coach Gary Kirsten’s backroom staff during the 2011 ODI World Cup.
He served as the mental conditioning and strategic leadership coach of the Indian men’s cricket team and is currently in a similar role with the Indian hockey team. Besides cricket and hockey, Upton, an accomplished mental coach, has also worked with Indian chess grandmaster D Gukesh, who is the reigning world champion.
Speaking on the sidelines of the ongoing Hockey Asia Cup 2025 in Bihar’s Rajgir, Upton gave insights about the fitness standards in the current Indian men’s hockey team. Citing the example of Indian cricket team superstar Virat Kohli, who is one of the fittest cricketers in the world, Upton said almost every player in the hockey team is at the same level.
“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,” Upton told Mid-Day.
“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,” he added.
The 2011 World Cup-winning Indian cricket team consisted of some of the biggest names in Indian cricket, including the likes of the legendary Sachin Tendulkar, MS Dhoni and Kohli, among others. India enjoyed a phenomenal run in the tournament and lifted the elusive trophy after defeating Sri Lanka in a thrilling final. India ended a 28-year-long wait for their second ODI World Cup crown and became the first team to win the World Cup at home.
India win three matches in a row in Hockey Asia Cup 2025
India have been unbeaten so far in the ongoing Asia Cup 2025, winning their first three matches in a row. India defeated China 4-3 in their opener, before beating Japan 3-2 and thrashing Kazakhstan 15-0 to top their pool and secure entry in the Super 4 stage of the tournament. India will look to continue their winning run in the tournament when they lock horns with South Korea in their Super 4 stage of the tournament on Wednesday, September 03.
Upton lauded the current coaching setup of the Indian men’s hockey team under head coach Craig Fulton and said the analysis that takes place is as good as he has seen in any other sport.
“Things are just going to get better and better, but sometimes they get worse before they get better when you make some key changes. For me, having worked in a number of different sports in very professional environments, this (setup) is incredibly professional. The coaches, the staff, the attention to detail, the strategic detail, the analysis is as good as I’ve ever seen in any sport,” said Upton.