Former India captain MS Dhoni and current captain Virat Kohli have talked about the need for a mental health and conditioning coach with the Indian team, given that many players, in their opinion, players still refuse to accept that they have some weakness when it comes to mental illness.

"In India, I feel there is still a big issue of accepting that there is some weakness when it comes to the mental aspects, but we generally term it as mental illness," Dhoni said.

"Nobody really says that, when I go to bat, the first 5 to 10 deliveries my heart rate is elevated, I feel the pressure, I feel a bit scared because that's how everybody feels - how to cope with that? This is a small problem but a lot of times we hesitate to say it to a coach and that's why the relationship between a player and coach is very important be it any sport," he added.

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The 38-year-old highlighted the importance of a mental health coach who is with the team all the time. "Mental conditioning coach should not be the one who comes for 15 days, because when you come for 15 days, you are only sharing the experience. If the mental conditioning coach is constantly with the player, he can understand what the areas which are affecting his sport are."

Indian team previously had a mental conditioning coach in Paddy Upton, who worked along with Gary Kirsten for three years leading to India winning the ICC World Cup 2011 and attaining no.1 ranking in Test rankings. 

He got support from Virat Kohli as well, who said, "I think mental health and mental clarity is the most important factor in life; not just in sports."

Dhoni and Kohli were talking in a session organized by MFORE, a non-profit initiative launched by former Indian batsman S Badrinath, with help of Sarvana Kumar.

"Badrinath and MFORE helping these cricketers will go a long way in them understanding themselves better and going out there and performing despite the conditions and situations being difficult for them," Kohli said.

(IANS inputs)