Cricket News: Paddy Upton returns as mental conditioning coach for team India till the T20 World Cup 

Posting a photo of Paddy Upton, BCCI tweeted, "Say hello to our mental conditioning coach Mr. Paddy Upton".

Paddy Upton was part of the support staff of India's 2011 World Cup winning squad when former Indian coach Gary Kirsten roped him in and partnered successfully from 2008 to 2011. This time, he has been called in on a short-term contract and will be the latest addition to Rahul Dravid's support staff till World Cup 2022. 

He will join the team immediately from the upcoming five-match T20I series against West Indies. Paddy Upton has worked with Rahul Dravid at Rajasthan Royals, which makes it much understandable why he has been approached for the role. 

"Rahul Dravid (Indian team head coach) proposed his name to the BCCI and accordingly, Upton has been added to the support staff to help the team prepare for the T20 World Cup," a top BCCI official told The Indian Express.
Importance of mental conditioning 

India has a hectic itinerary going into the T20 World Cup, with the first clash being with Pakistan on 23rd October. This definitely calls for the need to have a man who can keep players motivated enough for the tournament.

The appointment of a mind coach is nothing new for the Indian team, but it took a backseat with Ravi Shastri taking over the team. But now, Dravid, as a successor, has decided to return to the old ways in this respect. 

When Dravid was appointed as the head coach last year, he also promoted players' mental well-being. He said, "The players' mental and physical health is most important. The team's success is a priority as well. It is a balancing act. We have to work towards getting everyone fit and ready for the big tournaments."  

It will be interesting to see if Paddy Upton's addition can add to India's fortune.

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