Paddy Upton has joined India's support staff in the West Indies as the mental conditioning coach in the build up to the T20 World Cup later this year. The 53-year-old, who was part of India's 2011 World Cup win under then coach Gary Kirsten in a similar capacity, has already joined the team ahead of the their five-match T20I series against the two-time champions.Upton has been involved in cricket around the world in various capacities and enjoys a good rapport with head coach Rahul Dravid.
Both have worked together as coaches on many teams. Dravid was just a player when Upton would assist India head coach Gary Kirsten in the late 2010s. The duo then joined hands as a mentor and head coach respectively in two IPL franchises – Rajasthan Royals and Delhi Daredevils (now Capitals).Before Upton’s 2011 association, coach John Wright had brought in sports psychologist Sandy Gordon for the Sourav Ganguly-led 2003 World Cup team, where he introduced the pre-match team huddle. Before the 2007 World Cup, then head coach Greg Chappell had used the services of renowned sports psychologist Rudi Webster.
