Upton feels that only KG’s bank balance should change now that he’s a Daredevil
PADDY UPTON, coach of the Delhi Daredevils, has pledged to “manage” new R9.8 million signing Kagiso Rabada’s workload in the fast bowler’s maiden IPL season.
There was great excitement on Monday when Rabada signed a multi-million rand deal with Delhi, but equally the alarm bells were raised about the 21-year-old’s hectic schedule.
An integral part of the Proteas line-up across all three formats, Rabada has played virtually non-stop since the Test tour of Australia last year and a home series against Sri Lanka. He is now in New Zealand, then off to the IPL, followed by the ICC Champions Trophy and another full tour of England that runs until August.
Thus far, the Proteas have ironically rested Rabada from all the T20 international action this summer, which has composed of a three-match series against the Sri Lankans and one-off match against the Black Caps in Auckland last Friday.
But with the Daredevils paying such a hefty price tag for the young fast bowler, there are reservations that the IPL franchise will want the most from their big-money signing.
Upton disagrees. “I think there are teams who feel they ‘own’ a particular player for seven weeks. They forget that those seven weeks form part of a greater international season. We will definitely manage him. We have always believed in how we can add to the individual,” he told said from Dubai where he’s coaching the Lahore Qalandars in the Pakistan Super League.
“We’re expecting all of him as a cricketer and as a person. We hope to create an environment where ‘ KG’ can express himself. We know that in return we will get the best out of him. We will look to create the space for him to thrive. It’s always easier to give first than receive.” Upton, of course, has a long association with the Proteas. He was originally the national team’s fitness trainer from 1994-1998 and later joined Gary Kirsten’s management team as the mental and conditioning coach of the Proteas after the pair had taken India to World Cup glory in 2011.
He now works equally closely with Indian legend Rahul Dravid after the pair joined up initially at Rajasthan Royals, before moving together to the Daredevils after the inaugural IPL champions were disbanded.
The duo along with Panis Chetty (video analyst), Zuban Baruchia (statistician) and chief executive Hermant Dua are attempting to create a team environment where “investments are made in the human being and not just the cricketer”.
Among these “investments” are fellow Proteas Quinton de Kock, JP Duminy and Chris Morris, who will play their IPL cricket out of the Feroz Shah Kotla Stadium. Duminy actually led the Daredevils last season.
“From my side there’s no agenda at all. I haven’t tried to take South Africans with me. It’s more co-incidental,” Upton explained. “But it’s also important that KG feels comfortable in his environment and that he has his teammates around. We were clear in how KG fits into our team We obviously would want him in our starting XI as he would bring the right balance in terms of the bowling options. Rahul and I prefer being on the side of a young person wanting to grow, wanting to learn. I haven’t worked with KG before, but it’s very exciting.”
Rabada has yet to comment on his Daredevils deal, preferring to focus on his commitments with the Proteas, and it will be interesting to hear how a young man, only three years out of school, who just became a multi-millionaire, intends spending all this money.
But Upton, who has only briefly met the former St Stithians pupil before but has been in constant contact recently via text messages, doesn’t believe Rabada will suddenly undergo a character transformation.
“One would hope that it wouldn’t change him as a person. That would be unfortunate. Only his bank balance should change,” Upton said.