Most of us find motivation from sports; either by playing or by learning about the times and lives of sports personalities. Most of us prefer the latter. In one such motivational post, business leader Motilal Oswal shared an excerpt from mental conditioning sports coach Paddy Upton’s book. A former South African first-class cricketer himself, Upton transitioned into sports psychology and went on to redefine the mental side of the game.
Upton’s collaboration with the Indian cricket team began under Gary Kirsten’s coaching tenure. He was part of MS Dhoni’s backroom staff during India’s unforgettable 2011 World Cup victory.
Sharing an excerpt from his book, Oswal posted on X, “Virat Kohli has failed in 61% of his ODI innings, Joe Root in 63%, AB de Villiers in 64%, and David Warner in 70%—proof that even the world’s best fail more often than they succeed. Greatness lies not in avoiding failure, but in rising above.”
Paddy Upton part of Indian men’s hockey team
Upton’s reach has extended far beyond cricket. He played a pivotal role in the Indian men’s hockey team’s run to a bronze medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics, bringing his expertise in mental conditioning to an entirely different sport.
His philosophy revolves around resilience, focus and the art of bouncing back.
Upton X Gukesh
Upton has also been credited with strengthening the mental armour of India’s chess prodigy, D Gukesh. Through a collaboration with the WestBridge-Anand Chess Academy, Upton joined Gukesh’s team in mid-2024, filling a crucial gap in psychological preparation.
Following his historic world title in December last year, Gukesh openly credited Upton for his contribution.