For the T20 World Cup, India hires a well-known mind coach

Posted at: July 26, 2022

T20 World Cup: Mental conditioning expert Paddy Upton who played a part in MS Dhoni-led India’s 2011 World Cup winning team has been added to team India’s support staff to assist in preparations for the upcoming October-November T20 World Cup in Australia. “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.

Upton has a solid relationship with head coach Rahul Dravid and has participated in cricket in many capacities all over the world. Both have collaborated as coaches for several teams. When Upton aided India head coach Gary Kirsten in the late 2010s, Dravid was simply a player. The two then teamed up with the Rajasthan Royals and Delhi Daredevils in the IPL as mentor and head coach, respectively (now Capitals).

“Paddy is a thought-leader. He brings a unique approach and relevant approach to cricket and life,” Dravid had written in praise of Upton in the latter’s book. Upton’s last gig was with RR in IPL 2022 where he was the ‘team catalyst’.

Indian head coaches have hired mental health professionals on a frequent basis over the years to prepare the players for the demands of a World Cup.

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.

The mind coach, though, vanished after Ravi Shastri took over in 2014. Anil Kumble coached India to the 2017 Champions Trophy. Shastri is renowned as a powerful motivator and loved to get the teams ready in his own way. During his seven-year reign, he led India to the majority of the major ICC competitions.

The concept of mental conditioning in sports has evolved to become more comprehensive, and Upton has mentioned in previous interviews that he works to assist athletes in overcoming selection anxiety and avoiding overthinking during the breaks between games during 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.”

Despite winning the first T20 World Cup fifteen years ago, India is still seeking the elusive victory.

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Priyanka Suriyal

I am a sports reporter and broadcaster, because of my skills as a writer. My writing has been praised by many and has helped me to establish a career in this field.