Virat Kohli retired at the right time: Upton reflects on star’s mindset and the bond that helped revive it

Dubai: Paddy Upton saw both sides of Virat Kohli — the fierce public competitor who never took a step back, and the private thinker who invited him into his mind when the runs dried up.

As Kohli brings the curtain down on his Test career on Monday, Upton, India’s former mental conditioning coach and a trusted figure in Kohli’s corner for the last few years, reflected not just on the batter’s legacy but on the deeply personal journey they shared to revive it.

“Virat helped redefine Indian cricket,” Upton told Gulf News. “He ushered in a new level of fitness, and a new level of fight — standing toe-to-toe with the best and the most aggressive in the game. He not only never backed down, he prevailed over them. And he led his teammates to do the same.”

Steady presence

But Upton’s insight goes beyond Kohli’s public persona. During a challenging phase in Kohli’s career — marked by a run of low scores and self-doubt — the South African was a steady presence behind the scenes. Kohli has recently acknowledged Upton’s role in helping him return to form, something the coach deeply values.

“It’s not often that athletes take the time to acknowledge the people who helped them get to the top, especially those in the backroom,” Upton said in an earlier interview. “For me, it’s been an absolute privilege, because Kohli allowed me into his life, into his head, and gave me real access to have the conversations around what it takes to be the ultimate professional and deliver at the highest level — again and again.”

Upton also praised Kohli for knowing when to walk away, saying the timing of his retirement showed class and clarity.

“It was a day that was always going to come, and it was never going to be easy to hear,” said Upton, who has also worked with India’s Olympic bronze-winning hockey team and chess world champion Dommaraju Gukesh. “But I take my hat off to him for retiring at the right time, rather than waiting until he was well past his best and being pushed out under the guise of retirement.”