The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has decided not to renew the contract of the India men’s team mental conditioning coach Paddy Upton. He was appointed in July as the Men in Blue prepared for the T20 World Cup 2022 at the behest of India coach Rahul Dravid.
The South African began his services from India’s tour of the West Indies and was scheduled to be part of the team till the completion of the T20 World Cup. And with the team making an exit in the semifinals, the BCCI has now decided not to renew Upton’s contract.
India’s next assignment will be the Bangladesh tour where they will play three ODIs and two Test matches with all the big guns coming back into the squad after being rested for the New Zealand tour.
Recently, the BCCI had also invited new applications for the national selection panel, sacking the Chetan Sharma-led committee in the aftermath of the T20 World Cup 2022.
Although Upton’s tenure this time has ended on a disappointing note, he has previously been part of India’s 2011 World Cup-winning squad. Handpicked by then India head coach Gary Kirsten, he played an instrumental role in the team delivering under pressure on home soil.
He later joined the Rajasthan Royals franchise in IPL and in association with then captain and later coach Rahul Dravid, managed the side.
Apart from RR, Upton has worked with franchises like Pune Warriors, Rajasthan Royals and Delhi Daredevils (now Capitals) and Lahore Qalandars, and Sydney Thunder in Pakistan Super League and Big Bash League as well.
(Indian Express inputs)
