Paddy Upton, which is a familiar face in Indian cricket, returns to the team as their new mental conditioning expert to work with the players ahead of the T20 World Cup in Australia this year. Upton’s tenure will begin on Wednesday ahead of the third ODI between India and West Indies.
Paddy Upton comes with extensive experience working with the Indian team and players. Between 2008 and 2011, he was an assistant to India coach Gary Kirsten, a stint that culminated in the World Cup victory under MS Dhoni. Upton then teamed up with Kirsten once again and helped South Africa become the No. 1 Test team in 2013.
Upton has been on the T20 coaching circuit for several years now, most recently as the team catalyst for Rajasthan Royals in IPL 2022. He also worked with Dravid at the Rajasthan and Delhi franchises and was part of Sydney Thunder’s support staff when they won the BBL title in 2015-16.
Paddy Upton has known Dravid for a long time. Now both of them will form an integral part of the Indian coaching staff. “Excited and privileged to be back in #TeamIndia colours, working alongside long-time colleague, friend and Head Coach Rahul Dravid. Much of our journey was thanks to @rajasthanroyals,” Upton responded to a tweet posted by his former franchise Rajasthan Royals.
Excited and privileged to be back in #TeamIndia colours, working alongside long time colleague, friend and Head Coach Rahul Dravid. Much of our journey was thanks to @rajasthanroyals https://t.co/4v38iDGWgc
— Paddy Upton (@PaddyUpton1) July 26, 2022
Paddy Upton will assist players in being mentally charged for the World Cup
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It is understood that Upton was approached by India’s head coach Rahul Dravid with the specific brief of helping the players stay mentally charged for the T20 World Cup in October and November. Upton’s appointment had the support of India captain Rohit Sharma, who arrived in the Caribbean on Monday for the five-match T20I series starting on July 29.
Another key reason for the swiftness of Upton’s appointment is that Dravid was keen to have an expert who could immediately work with players – especially the younger ones – on mental conditioning, having played in biosecure environments for over two years during the Covid-19 pandemic. With the relentless schedule of international cricket, Dravid wants his players in the best frame of mind ahead of the T20 World Cup, after India crashed out in the league stage of the 2021 World Cup in the UAE.
Highlights:
• Paddy Upton joins India as a mental conditioning expert.
• Upton and Dravid have been colleagues for a long time.
