Krishan Bahadur Pathak is an Indian Hockey player born on 24th April 1997 who represents India’s national team as a goalkeeper.
| Name | Krishan Bahadur Pathak |
| Nickname | |
| Profession | Hockey Player(Goalkeeper) |
| Birthplace | Kapurthala, Punjab |
| Father’s Name | Tek Bahadur |
| Mother’s Name | |
| Date of Birth | 24th April 1997 |
| Age as of now (24th June 2022) | 25 years old |
| Appearance for India(2018- present) | 66 appearances for India |
| Appearance in India Under 21 | 1 appearance at that level |
| Tournaments(2018 Jakarta Asian Games) | Bronze medal |
| Tournament(Asian Champions Trophy) | Gold Medal |
| Junior World Cup(2016) | Gold Medal |
Krishna Bahadur Pathak Early Life:
Krishan’s journey hasn’t been easy and on the path of glory, he has faced many hardships where easily someone who isn’t determined would have given up on his dreams.
His mother passed away when he was only 12 years old and based on his interviews in the past where he described that moment as the worst time for his family.
His father migrated from Nepal to Punjab in 1990 and the other bad phase happened in his life in 2016, when he was all set to make his debut for India in the same year his father suffered heart attack and passed away but the ace player didn’t give up on his dreams and whenever he received any opportunity to represent national team he gave his best to the best of his ability.
Krishan Bahadur India goalkeeper image
Krishan Bahadur Pathak Professional Life:
Krishan debut in the senior team finally happened in the year 2018, in that tournament he found preference as first choice goalkeeper for the national side when Pr Sreejesh was rested for that event.
In Men’s Hockey Champion’s trophy held in 2018, He played as reserved goalkeeper and India went on to bag silver medal in that tournament.
He was also part of Indian squad in 2018 Asian Games, where the national side displayed stupendous performance on the table by bagging 69 medals in total.
| Serial Number | Tournament | Result |
| 1 | Asian Champions Trophy(Dhaka 2021) | Bronze Medal |
| 2 | Champions Trophy(2018 Breda) | Silver Medal |
| 3 | Tokyo Olympics(2020) | Bronze Medal |
Krishan Bahadur Pathak saving goals for India
Krishan Bahadur Commonwealth Games 2022:
Krishan Bahadur Pathak is a part of 18 member India squad for the upcoming Commonwealth Games and based on the latest performance our national team has brought on the table India will be expected to win medals in the upcoming marquee event.
Let’s have a look at 18 member India’s squad for the upcoming marquee event in the form of description below:
Men’s squad:
Goalkeepers: PR Sreejesh, Krishan Bahadur Pathak
Defenders: Varun Kumar, Surender Kumar, Harmanpreet Singh (VC), Amit Rohidas, Jugraj Singh, Jarmanpreet Singh
Midfielders: Manpreet Singh (C), Hardik Singh, Vivek Sagar Prasad, Shamsher Singh, Akashdeep Singh, Nilakanta Sharma
Forwards: Mandeep Singh, Gurjant Singh, Lalit Kumar Upadhyay, Abhishek.
Krishna Bahadur Records & Achievements:
| Serial Number | Event | Achievement |
| 1 | FIH Pro League (12th April 2021) | Made 50th appearance for India on this day |
| 2 | Dhaka Asian Cup(2017) | Gold Medal |
| 3 | Tokyo Olympics(standby goalkeeper) | Bronze Medal |
Krishan Bahadur Pathak Controversy:
Based on reports in different media outlets, Krishan Bahadur Pathak stays in rented apartment in Punjab with his uncle and Punjab Government promised to pay Rs 25 lakhs to all 10 players but the ace player hasn’t received that amount yet and his long term dream is to build his own accommodation.
Krishan Bahadur Pathak Unsung Facts:
Krishan Bahadur Pathak’s family originally hails from a village in Nepal and migrated to Punjab in the year 1990 despite he wasn’t interested in sports at all he enrolled in Surjit Hockey Academy in Jalandhar at the insistence of his father, Tek Bahadur who was a crane operator.
Pathak’s debut came in 2018, for India in four team invitational tournament held in New Zealand.
Krishan Bahadur Pathak Social Media:
Krishan Bahadur Pathak Facebook: Na
Krishan Bahadur Pathak Linkedin: Na
Krishan Bahadur Pathak Twitter: https://twitter.com/KrishanBPathak
Krishan Bahadur Pathak Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pathak_12/
PR Sreejesh Biography: Age, Personal Life, Career, Achievements & Net Worth
Asian Games 2026:
Krishan Bahadur Pathak, is an Indian Goalkeeper who won Gold Medal in Asian Games 2026, where he did wonders for marquee event.
Krishna Bahadur Pathak have been phenomenal as player and he is brilliantly taken the mettle from Pr Sreejesh.
Krishan Bahadur Pathak Clean Sheets, Goals Concedded, Goals Per Game and Save Ratio.
Here in this article we will reveal about these terminologies to be shared in below format:
| Soccer Term | Hockey Equivalent | How it Works |
|---|---|---|
| Clean Sheet | Shutout (SO) | Awarded when a goalie plays the entire game and allows zero goals. In ice hockey, if two goalies share a game and give up zero goals, it counts as a “team shutout,” but neither player gets individual credit. |
| Goals Conceded | Goals Against (GA) | The raw number of goals allowed. Crucially, goals scored into an empty net (when the goalie is pulled for an extra attacker) or goals scored during a post-overtime shootout do not count against the goalie’s personal stats. |
| Goals Per Game | Goals-Against Average (GAA) | The average number of goals a goalie concedes per 60 minutes of play (a standard full regulation game). A GAA under 2.50 is generally considered very strong. |
| Save Ratio | Save Percentage (SV% or Pct) | The percentage of total shots on goal that the goalie successfully stops. It is calculated as Saves ÷ Shots Against. |
Pathak had faced a temporary omission and rotation from core squads earlier in 2026 due to disciplinary and availability evaluations, and ultimately missed out on the final continental tournament squad where India successfully defended their Asian Games Gold Medal by defeating Malaysia 5-1.
Pathak have been phenomenal player to watch out for India and credit should be given to all stakeholders who have worked hard behind the scenes to make him formidable goalkeeper.
Krishan Bahadur Pathak is one of Indian hockey’s most resilient and formidable goalkeepers. Serving as a crucial pillar in India’s dual-goalkeeper strategy alongside veteran PR Sreejesh for years—and transitioning into a leading role in the post-Sreejesh era—Pathak has demonstrated exceptional agility, shot-stopping brilliance, and dynamic reflexes on the international stage.
Below is an extensive, in-depth Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) guide covering his profile, career achievements, tactical role, backroom support, and the circumstances surrounding his 2026 squad rotation.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ): Krishan Bahadur Pathak
Q-1. Who is Krishan Bahadur Pathak?
Answer: Krishan Bahadur Pathak is an international field hockey player who represents the Indian Men’s National Hockey Team as a goalkeeper. Born on April 24, 1997, in Kapurthala, Punjab (with roots in Nepal), Pathak has established himself as a reliable, high-reflex guardian of the Indian goalpost, helping the national team secure major international titles across continents.
Q-2. What are the key highlights and milestones of Krishan Pathak’s hockey career?
Answer: Pathak’s journey from grassroots hockey to international stardom includes several major milestones:
Junior World Cup Champion (2016): He was part of the iconic Indian Junior Hockey team that won the FIH Junior World Cup in Lucknow.
Senior National Debut (2018): Made his senior international debut at the 2018 Sultan Azlan Shah Cup.
Asian Games Medalist: Won a Bronze medal at the 2018 Jakarta Asian Games and was part of the Gold medal-winning campaign at the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games (held in 2023).
Olympic Standby / Bronze Medalist: Served as an integral alternate/standby goalkeeper and training partner during India’s historic Olympic medal runs at Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024.
Asian Champions Trophy: Won multiple Asian Champions Trophy titles as an integral core member of the squad.
Q-3. What happened regarding Pathak’s squad selection and rotation in early 2026?
Answer: Earlier in 2026, Krishan Bahadur Pathak faced a temporary omission and rotation from the core national team squads. This decision stemmed from internal disciplinary, fitness, and availability evaluations conducted by team management and high-performance directors.
As a result of this temporary rotation and tactical reshuffling, Pathak ultimately missed out on the final selection for the continental tournament squad. Despite his absence from that specific campaign, India maintained its dominant form, successfully defending their Asian Games Gold Medal by defeating Malaysia 5-1 in a high-octane final.
Q-4: What personal challenges did Pathak overcome to reach the national stage?
Answer: Pathak’s journey is defined by remarkable personal resilience. He faced immense personal tragedies at a young age, losing his mother while still in school and his father during his time at the Surjit Hockey Academy. Despite these devastating losses, Pathak stayed focused on his sport, drawing strength from his coaches, teammates, and guardians who supported him through financial and emotional hardships.
Q-5: How did the dual-goalkeeper strategy shape Pathak’s role in the Indian team?
Answer: For several seasons, India employed a unique dual-goalkeeper strategy where PR Sreejesh and Krishan Pathak rotated quarters (e.g., Q1/Q3 for Sreejesh, Q2/Q4 for Pathak). This tactical approach provided several benefits:
Sustained High Energy: Allowed both goalkeepers to play at maximum physical intensity during their respective quarters.
Tactical Variety: Opponents had to adjust to two goalkeepers with different styles and reach profiles within a single 60-minute match.
Seamless Succession Planning: Prepared Pathak for high-pressure international situations early in his career rather than keeping him on the bench for long stretches.
Q-6. What lies ahead for Krishan Bahadur Pathak in his international career?
Answer: Temporary omissions and squad evaluations are routine in high-performance elite sports. Given his proven track record, world-class athletic potential, and the continuous backing of India’s high-performance ecosystem, Pathak remains a pivotal figure in India’s goalkeeping depth. With dedicated retraining, fitness work, and domestic performance, he continues to be a top contender for upcoming global FIH tournaments and international test series.
Krishan Bahadur Pathak Important Dates and Details to Remember:
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Krishan Bahadur Pathak |
| Profession | Indian Field Hockey Player |
| Playing Position | Goalkeeper |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Sport | Field Hockey |
| Speciality | Goalkeeping, shot-stopping, reflex saves and penalty-corner defence |
| International Role | One of India’s prominent goalkeepers |
| Notable Goalkeeping Partnership | Played an important role in India’s goalkeeper rotation alongside PR Sreejesh |
| Post-Sreejesh Era | Has emerged as one of the goalkeepers expected to carry forward India’s legacy after PR Sreejesh |
| Major Strengths | Agility, reflexes, positioning, shot-stopping ability and composure under pressure |
| Major Achievement | Asian Games Gold Medal |
| International Reputation | Regarded as one of India’s experienced and resilient goalkeepers |
Krishan Bahadur Pathak Goalkeeping Statistics: Explained
| Soccer Term | Hockey Equivalent | Meaning / How It Works |
|---|---|---|
| Clean Sheet | Shutout (SO) | A goalkeeper records a shutout when he completes a match without conceding a goal. In hockey, the terminology and statistical treatment can differ from soccer, so the competition’s official statistics should be used when reporting individual shutouts. |
| Goals Conceded | Goals Against (GA) | Refers to the number of goals scored against the goalkeeper while he is on the field. The figure helps measure how many goals a goalkeeper has allowed during his playing time. |
| Goals Per Game | Goals-Against Average (GAA) | Represents the average number of goals conceded over a defined period of playing time. Unlike ice hockey, field hockey does not universally use the same 60-minute GAA convention, so the calculation should specify the competition and minutes played. |
| Save Ratio | Save Percentage (SV%) | Measures the percentage of shots on goal successfully stopped by the goalkeeper. It can be calculated as Saves ÷ Shots on Target × 100. |
| Saves | Saves | The number of shots on target that the goalkeeper successfully prevents from becoming goals. |
| Shots Against | Shots on Target Faced | The number of opposition attempts on target faced by the goalkeeper. |
| Save Percentage | SV% | A higher percentage generally indicates that the goalkeeper is stopping a greater proportion of the shots faced. |
| Metric | What It Measures | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|
| Appearances | Number of matches played | Shows international/competition experience |
| Minutes Played | Total time spent on the pitch | Important for comparing goalkeeping performances fairly |
| Goals Conceded | Goals allowed while playing | Basic measure of defensive outcome |
| Saves | Shots successfully stopped | Indicates shot-stopping contribution |
| Shots Faced | Opposition shots on target | Provides context for save numbers |
| Save Percentage | Percentage of shots successfully stopped | Helps compare shot-stopping efficiency |
| Shutouts | Matches without conceding | Highlights games in which the goalkeeper and defence prevented all goals |
| Goals Per Game | Average goals conceded per match/defined period | Provides a broader view of defensive performance |
| Penalty-Corner Saves | Saves against penalty-corner attempts | Particularly important because penalty corners are major scoring opportunities in hockey |
| High-Pressure Saves | Crucial saves during decisive moments | Helps assess a goalkeeper beyond basic statistics |
My Perspective:
Krishan Bahadur Pathak is a phenomenal player and someone who can be groomed for leadership position for sure.
Krishan Bahadur Pathak goal saving ability should be talked about for sure, which has massively improved a lot where he can intercept defenders and create impact when it mattered the most.
Krishan Bahadur Pathak, have grown exponentially grown in last few years and someone who could be groomed from all aspects be it- Leadership or Goalkeeping his future certainly looks bright.
Krishan Kumar Hooda, attacking and defensive prowess along with game understanding have been top notch.
Overall Hooda is ideal candidate not only become Ideal Goalkeeper of the country but also inspire next generation of players to take up the sport.
