Mid Day tells you what India's mental conditioning expert paddy does
Mid Day tells you what India's mental conditioning expert paddy does
India's tour of South Africa is not only going to be a special assignment for coach Gary Kirsten. It is a critical one for the team's mental conditioning expert, Paddy Upton too.
Upton will return to his home country as South Africa host India for three Tests, five one-day internationals and a Twenty20 international.u00a0
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Having been with the team for almost three years, it must have been an overwhelming task to gel with a unit comprising half a dozen demigods. These are players who have the power of regulating the mood of a cricket- crazy nation.
But Upton's positive approach has earned him the love and respect of the Indian players. He is constantly seen imparting his two cents not just on his teammates, but opposition players, team staff and even people not associated with either team.
Happy environment
"My job is to create a happy team and happy environment. I have been lucky because the players have been highly receptive. They are all top athletes. They hardly need advice.
The interactions we have are healthy," Upton told MiD DAY in Vadodara where stand-in captain Gautam Gambhir's men won their third game over NZ in a row.
Upton reiterated that sportspersons must have no insecurities: "Virender Sehwag and Sachin Tendulkar are winners because they are happy people. Happier minds enrich one's game, and allow the creative juices to flow. That's the biggest and only way to succeed at the highest level."
When the world's most destructive batsman, Sehwag thanks Upton for his relaxed state of mind that has helped him reach his zenith, it establishes the importance of the South African's role in the team. Upton describes his work as helping individual players understand and overcome specific fears and emotions that affect specific aspects of their performance.
Freedom
"I look at cricketers as individuals. If you start to get caught up in their star-power and popularity, it is easy to get overawed. I came here (to join the Indian team) without any preconceived notions."
Upton, who played first-class cricket for Western Province, does not believe in enforcing his ideas or principles on any player.
"They (the players) know exactly what needs to be done both on and off the field. My job is to try and ensure there are free minds in the team. It's important for me to provide players the comfort level; they should be able to discuss anything they want.
"Mental conditioning in sports is not exactly new.u00a0 "Over the years, the greatest athletes are ones who have gone into battle with a free mind. Some captains have performed a similar role (mental conditioning coach) for their players," Upton concluded.
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