India’s 2011 World Cup winner S Sreesanth has reacted to the appointment of Paddy Upton as Team India’s mental conditioning coach in the lead-up to the ICC T20 World Cup 2022 in Australia.
Notably, Sreesanth worked with South Africa's coach during his playing days, both for Team India and Rajasthan Royals (RR) in the IPL, so he knows many things about his style.
Upton had already worked with the Indian cricket team from 2008 to 2011, but Sreesanth said the latter had barely a role in his team’s successful campaign in the World Cup 2011, all the work done by then coach Gary Kirsten.
The former pacer further said that Upton's appointment won't do any wonders for the Indian team, and if the Men in Blue win the T20 World Cup 2022, then it would be just because of the players.
Sreesanth told mid-day from Kerala: “I don’t think he [Upton] can do wonders. If we win the T20 World Cup, it will be because of the players and the experience of Rahul Bhai [Dravid]. We have a great unit, but I don’t think that the man who you are talking about [Upton] is going to make much difference. Even when you play domestic cricket, you have to be mentally fit. So, the conditioning is happening [already].”
On Upton’s impact on the Indian team during his past stint, Sreesanth said: “Hardly one percent. Gary did 99 percent of the work. He [Upton] was just an assistant to him. He is back because he has worked with Rahul Bhai earlier [at RR]. Rahul Bhai will surely use him well because he is a good yoga teacher.”
He signed off by saying, “Gary was a wonderful coach. Each and every player will agree with this. He had this vision when he came in for the CB Series in 2007-08 [Australia]. I clearly remember Gary telling me, [Suresh] Raina, and a few others while fielding that whoever has the ambition to win the 2011 World Cup, this [the CB Series] is where it starts. So, he had this vision, which was amazing.”
