Paddy Upton has joined India’s support team in the West Indies as the mental fitness coach ahead of this year’s T20 World Cup. The 53-year-old, who played a similar role in India’s World Cup victory under then-coach Gary Kirsten in 2011, has already joined the squad ahead of their five-match T20I series against the two-time winners.
Upton was brought in on the advice of head coach Rahul Dravid. They previously worked together as mentors and coaches for the Rajasthan Royals and the former Delhi Daredevils, respectively, in the early 2010s during the latter’s playing career.
Upton has previously worked as South Africa’s Performance Director and then as head coach on the T20 circuit, with spells with Sydney Thunder (BBL) and Lahore Qalandars (PSL) in addition to his involvement in the IPL. He most recently worked as the ‘Team Catalyst’ for the Rajasthan Royals, who reached their first IPL final since 2008.
India, as usual, has a busy schedule ahead of them before embarking on its quest for a second T20 championship in Australia. Following the five-match series against the West Indies, they will play a brief ODI series in Zimbabwe, the Asia Cup in August, and then white-ball matches against Australia and South Africa at home.
