Former India pacer S Sreesanth says that Paddy 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 Slams Paddy Upton’s appointment
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), on Tuesday, announced the appointment of Paddy Upton as the mental conditioning coach of the India National Cricket Team.
Earlier Upton had 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.
Speaking to mid-day, S Sreesanth said that Upton is back in the team just because he had worked with current India head coach Rahul Dravid in past.
“Hardly one per cent. Gary (Kirsten) did 99 per cent 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,” Sreesanth said.
Former India cricketer added that Kirsten was a wonderful coach and he had started planning for the World Cup 2011 in 2008 itself.
“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,” recalled Sreesanth, who featured in 27 Tests, 53 ODIs and 10 T20Is.”
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.
“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,” Sreesanth said.
“Even when you play domestic cricket, you have to be mentally fit. So, the conditioning is happening [already],” added Sreesanth.
Say Hello 👋🏻 to our Mental Conditioning Coach – Mr. Paddy Upton 😃#TeamIndia 🇮🇳 pic.twitter.com/KEjpnXuC81
— BCCI (@BCCI) July 26, 2022
