Won’t do wonders: Sreesanth passes verdict on Paddy Upton's recall to Team India

In a bid to end Indiarsquos ICC trophy drought the teamrsquos former mental conditioning coach Paddy Upton has been roped in to join head coach Rahul Dravidrsquos support staffUpton was part of the Indian teamrsquos support staff during the 2011 World Cup victory The South African was also the head coach of Rajasthan Royals when Dravid was their captain in IPL 2013 Upton who is known for his outofbox ideas to strengthen the mental fortitude of players was a key member of Gary Kirstenrsquos support staff when MS Dhonirsquos team lifted the World Cup in 2011 after a 28year gapIndiarsquos mental conditioning coach Paddy Upton watches Rohit Sharma practise during a net session at Karachi in 2008 PicGetty ImagesThe South African will join Team India in the Caribbean for the fivematch T20I series that will see its senior players return to action after a break for the threematch ODI series It is learnt that Uptonrsquos contract is till the T20 World Cup scheduled to be held in Australia in OctoberNovemberlsquoIndia are a great unitrsquoHowever former India pacer S Sreesanth who has worked with Upton during his time with the national team and at Rajasthan Royals isnrsquot expecting a massive contribution from the South African ldquoI donrsquot 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 donrsquot think that the man who you are talking about Upton is going to make much differencerdquo Sreesanth told midday from Kerala on Tuesday ldquoEven when you play domestic cricket you have to be mentally fit So the conditioning is happening alreadyrdquo added Sreesanth who earlier this year retired from all formats of the gameAlso Read Watch Rohit Sharma Dinesh Karthik Rishabh Pant and others arrive for India vs WI T20IsUpton in his autobiography The Barefoot Coach alleged that Sreesanth abused Dravid then RR captain and him after they left the maverick pacer out of the playing XI for their match against Mumbai Indians in the 2013 IPL which was rocked by the spot fixing saga Sreesanth Ajit Chandila and Ankeet Chavan were the three suspects and banned by the BCCI immediately Sreesanth and Chavan managed to revoke their bans after a court ruling in their favourlsquoOne per centrsquo impactWhen asked what impact Upton had on the Indian team during his stint from 2008 to 2011 Sreesanth said ldquoHardly one per centrdquo He added ldquoGary head coach 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 teacherldquoGary 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 200708 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 amazingrdquo recalled Sreesanth who featured in 27 Tests 53 ODIs and 10 T20IsIndia last won an ICC title in 2013 after beating hosts England in the Champions Trophy final Thereafter India have faltered at crucial junctures in world events leading to questions over their mental toughness India failed to even qualify for the knockout stage of the last T20 World Cup in the UAESreesanth who bowled the nailbiting final over against Pakistan to help India clinch the maiden T20 World Cup in 2007 is confident that Rohit Sharmarsquos team can win againldquoI genuinely believe India will win the T20 World Cup They are doing wonderfully and there is a huge possibility that we will win this timerdquo Sreesanth signed off