Having Paddy Upton As The Mental Conditioning Coach Will Be Helpful For The Team: Rahul Dravid

Rahul Dravid, the head coach of India, has praised Paddy Upton’s selection as the team’s mental conditioning coach, claiming that his wide knowledge base will be a very helpful “resource” at a time when cricket players’ mental health is becoming increasingly important.

Upton has joined the Indian support team of coach Rahul Dravid as the mental conditioning coach in the run-up to the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup later this year in Australia after four productive years under Gary Kirsten from 2008 to 2011.

Paddy Upton’s Familiarity With The Indian Set Up Will Help The Team: Rahul Dravid

“With so much cricket being played, the mental health side of cricket is very important and having a resource like him (Upton) will really be helpful to the group,” Dravid told BCCI.Tv.

Upton’s knowledge of the Indian cricket setup, in Dravid’s opinion, will be advantageous.

“Travelling as players in international cricket, we do understand the mental side of the game and we are lucky to get someone like Paddy on board because he has that experience of being with the Indian team during the 2011 World Cup and even a little before that.

“He is familiar with our culture and how the Indian team functions. (It) seemed like a really good fit for us, to tap into his knowledge as we look to build the team for the World Cup,” added Dravid.

Upton wants to be recognised as a catalyst for players in top-tier contests to achieve their best. He has developed special people skills to deal with particular athletes.

“Everybody has a natural motivational flow and part of my role is to help individuals find that natural motivation flow and for that, we need to set up an environment that allows people to be themselves and to flourish,” Upton said.

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