Virat Kohli, one of India's most celebrated cricketers and a Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) stalwart, has sparked widespread conversation within the Indian hockey fraternity after stating that cricketers are 'not even 15% of the fitness of an Indian hockey player.' The remarks, made at the RCB Innovation Lab Indian Sports Summit in Bengaluru on Tuesday, 19 May, have been welcomed with deep gratitude by the country's hockey stars.

What Kohli Said

Speaking at the third edition of the summit, Kohli addressed the broader culture of fitness in Indian sport. 'I know people sometimes look at fitness as something extraordinary, but for me it's simply what the job demands. It should be the norm, not something celebrated as special. Cricket is in such prime focus in our country that we often overlook other sports,' he said.

Kohli went further, offering a candid self-assessment: 'If I'm being brutally honest, we are not even 15% of the fitness of an Indian hockey player. If the hockey players watch our training sessions, they'd probably laugh because their sport demands far more, physically.'

Harmanpreet Singh: Recognition Means a Lot

Indian men's hockey captain Harmanpreet Singh recalled a personal conversation with Kohli at a recent event where fitness benchmarks became a talking point. 'He told me hockey is such a fast sport, and was curious to know about our fitness benchmarks. We spoke about the yo-yo test, and when I told him that even our goalkeepers score above 20, he was genuinely surprised,' Harmanpreet said.

'I am grateful that someone like Virat Kohli brought attention to the fitness standards of hockey players because ours is one of the fastest and most physically demanding sports in the world. Recognition like this means a lot to the hockey community,' he added.

Manpreet and Hardik Echo the Sentiment

Veteran midfielder Manpreet Singh explained why elite conditioning has become inseparable from success in modern hockey. 'Hockey today is incredibly fast. The ball travels from one end to the other within seconds, and players are constantly moving, pressing, and transitioning. Fitness not only helps you physically but also keeps you mentally prepared to perform at your best,' he said. Manpreet credited Kohli with transforming fitness culture within Indian cricket, adding that acknowledgement from someone of his stature 'means a lot.'

Star midfielder Hardik Singh pointed to the punishing international schedule as evidence of the demands placed on hockey players. 'We play back-to-back matches in tournaments like the Pro League and at the Olympics, where we can play seven matches in eleven days with a limited squad. That requires supreme fitness and recovery. Coming from an icon like Virat, these words are huge and very motivating for all of us,' he said.

Paddy Upton's Endorsement Adds Context

Kohli's remarks are not the first time the fitness culture within Indian hockey has drawn elite-level praise. During the Asia Cup Rajgir, Bihar 2025, renowned South African mental conditioning expert Paddy Upton — who worked with the Indian men's hockey setup ahead of the Paris Olympics and was part of the support staff during India's 2011 Cricket World Cup triumph — remarked that the hockey squad contains 'at least 18 or 20 Virat Kohlis' when it comes to physicality. He described the professionalism and commitment within the squad as among the best he had encountered in elite sport.

Why This Moment Matters for Indian Hockey

Cricket's dominance of the Indian sports conversation has long meant that hockey — despite the country's historic success in the sport — receives a fraction of the mainstream attention. Kohli's public acknowledgement, coming from arguably India's most recognisable active athlete, carries the potential to shift that narrative, even if modestly. This comes amid a broader push by Indian hockey to raise its visibility following a bronze medal at the Paris Olympics. With validation now arriving from both Kohli and Upton, the spotlight on the extraordinary fitness culture within Indian hockey continues to grow.