Over the past two decades, few names in sports coaching have been as versatile and impactful as Paddy Upton. From cricket to hockey, Upton has worn many hats across disciplines and continents. The South African coach, known for his innovative mental conditioning methods, has once again made headlines — this time for his candid comparison of fitness standards between two of India’s top national teams.
Upton’s resume is as diverse as it is impressive. He has served as head coach for IPL franchises like Rajasthan Royals and Delhi Capitals, and worked with various other T20 teams globally. He played a pivotal role as the Mental Conditioning and Strategic Leadership Coach for the Indian Men’s Cricket Team between 2008 and 2011 — a period that saw India win the 2011 ICC World Cup. He returned to the same role briefly in 2022.
Upton Now Coaching Indian Hockey Team in 2025
Fast forward to 2025, Paddy Upton is currently working with the Indian Men’s Hockey Team as a Mental Conditioning Coach during their Asia Cup 2025 campaign. Known for his no-nonsense, evidence-based approach, Upton recently sparked a discussion by highlighting the sheer fitness levels of India’s hockey players in contrast to their cricketing counterparts.
In a conversation with RevSportz, Upton said:
“From a fitness perspective, if the Indian cricket team trained with the hockey team, I think most wouldn’t manage halfway through the session. By the end, you’d probably still have 18 hockey players going strong, with maybe only Virat Kohli keeping up with them. That’s how fit this team is.”
The comment echoes what Upton had previously stated in an interview with India Today, where he famously remarked:
“These guys are 18 Virat Kohlis from a fitness perspective, where in the cricket team there’s only one Virat Kohli.”
BCCI Introduces Bronco Test to Match Hockey-Level Fitness
Perhaps not coincidentally, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) recently introduced a new fitness drill called the Bronco Test for the Indian Men’s Cricket Team. Previously popular in rugby and hockey, this test is designed to push players to their limits — even more so than the well-known Yo-Yo Test.
The Bronco Test involves running shuttles of 20, 40, and 60 meters, five times each without a break — covering a total of 1.2 km. It’s designed to test a player’s aerobic endurance, speed, and recovery time, making it one of the toughest fitness benchmarks in professional sport today.
With fitness becoming a key determinant in high-performance sports, Upton’s observations could serve as a wake-up call for Indian cricket. As hockey continues to demand and develop elite physical conditioning across the board, cricket may need to follow suit — or risk falling behind in terms of physical readiness.
