Paddy Upton Joins The Indian Support Staff Till The Duration Of The T20 World Cup In Australia

Updated - 26 Jul 2022, 09:17 PM

Paddy Upton [Image-Google]

In order to help with preparations for the forthcoming October–November T20 World Cup in Australia, mental conditioning specialist Paddy Upton, who was a member of MS Dhoni’s 2011 World Cup-winning India team, has been appointed to team India’s support staff.

With head coach Rahul Dravid, Upton has a solid working relationship. Upton has been involved in cricket in many roles around the world. Together, they have coached numerous teams. In the late 2010s, Dravid was just a player when Upton helped India head coach Gary Kirsten. The pair then collaborated as the head coach and mentor of the Rajasthan Royals and Delhi Daredevils, respectively, in the IPL.

Paddy Upton
Paddy Upton. Image-Twitter

Paddy Upton Will Join The Team As Mental Conditioning Coach: Sources

“Paddy will be joining the team in West Indies as a mental conditioning coach and will be there till the T20 World Cup,” said a BCCI official on condition of anonymity.

Prior to Upton’s 2011 affiliation, Sourav Ganguly’s 2003 World Cup coaching staff hired sports psychologist Sandy Gordon, and Wright instituted the pre-game team huddle. Former head coach Greg Chappell sought the help of famous sports psychologist Rudi Webster prior to the 2007 World Cup.

Rohit Sharma, Rahul Dravid
Rohit Sharma, Rahul Dravid. (Photo: BCCI)

The practice of mental training in sports has expanded, and Upton has mentioned in previous interviews that he works to assist athletes in overcoming selection-related concerns and avoiding excessive thinking while waiting between games at a major competition.

In the run-up to the 2011 World Cup, Upton would talk about making the phrase “when we play the World Cup final in Mumbai” more commonplace to lessen the pressure on the team to play in a significant final. Soon, he might start saying, “when we play the World Cup final at MCG.”

Having won the first T20 World Cup fifteen years ago, India is indeed looking to win the elusive trophy again.

Also Read: ICC T20 World Cup 2022: ‘Mark My Words, He’s A Fantastic Option For India In T20 WC, Asia Cup’: Ex-Pakistan Cricketer’s Bold Prediction

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