India is battling a deadly surge of COVID-19 cases ©Getty Images

Ravindra Pal Singh and Maharaj Krishan Kaushik, members of the last Indian hockey team to win gold at the Olympic Games, died on the same day from COVID-19.

Singh and Kaushik, part of the victorious Indian side at the 1980 Olympics in Moscow, died within hours of each other, Agence France-Presse reported.

They had both been on ventilators in hospital after contracting the virus.

India has been battling a deadly surge in COVID-19 cases of late, which has overwhelmed the country's medical system and prompted global concern.

The country has posted a record 4,205 deaths in the past 24 hours, as well as more than 348,000 new COVID-19 cases.

Kaushik coached the Indian men's team to the title at the 1998 Asian Games and led the women's squad to bronze at the 2006 Asian Games in Doha.

Singh represented India at the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles before retiring because of a back problem.