Muscat – Oman Cricket (OC) has made a significant investment in the mental side of the game ahead of a crucial international season. Renowned Indian mental conditioning and peak performance coach Dr Swaroop Savanur recently completed an intensive five-day high-performance programme designed to help the Sultanate’s cricketers cope with pressure, build resilience and unlock their full potential.

The programme conducted specifically for the senior men’s team comes as Oman prepare for the ACC Premier Cup and the remaining ICC Cricket World Cup League 2 series, with qualification for next year’s Asia Cup and the ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifier firmly in their sights.

He also conducted a group workshop with the women’s national teams as well as the U-19 boys’ and girls’ squads.

For Dr Swaroop, the assignment addressed what he described as the team’s “missing link”.

“The mental part of the game has been the missing link,” he said. “When I first spoke to head coach Sulakshan Kulkarni and the management, the agenda was very clear—to help the players perform better and go to the next level. We devised a structured plan to make mental conditioning an integral part of their preparation.”

Widely regarded as one of India’s leading mental conditioning and peak performance coaches, Dr Swaroop has worked with the BCCI ecosystem, domestic champions Vidarbha, Punjab Kings IPL team, Indian national football team, IPL players and several elite athletes across sports, helping teams build the mindset needed to excel under pressure.

He believes one of the biggest misconceptions in modern sport is that mental conditioning is merely psychology.

“Unfortunately, many people think the mental aspect is psychology. For me, it is training. You train your mind just as you train your batting, bowling or fielding. Players need the right tools and routines to switch on when it matters most. One of the biggest achievements over these five days was removing the myths around mental training and reducing the resistance towards working on this aspect of the game. The players opened their minds and embraced the process.”

The workshop centred on three key areas—changing players’ approach towards mindset training, developing customised mental preparation plans ahead of major tours, and helping individuals deal effectively with pressure, expectations and setbacks through practical exercises and match simulations.

“There is nothing wrong with pressure, expectations or even failure,” Dr Savanur said. “The important thing is how you deal with them. We spent time working individually with players, discussing different match situations and creating practical responses. I am happy with what we have achieved in just five days because the players have understood how mental conditioning can become part of their daily routine.”

What impressed him most, however, was the potential within the Oman camp.

“I saw a deep desire throughout the team to improve and go beyond where they are today. The players have the skills to beat the best and compete at the highest level. What they perhaps lack is consistent exposure against stronger opposition. Our objective is to add peak-performance strategies and mental tools that will help bridge that gap.”

Dr Savanur believes Oman should set their sights much higher. “There is absolutely no reason why Oman cannot be among the top four Associate Nations. There is nothing called ‘tough’ if every one of the 15 players performs their role. The players and coaching staff are aligned, they enjoy taking on difficult challenges and they are genuinely excited about what lies ahead.”

He identified three areas that could define Oman’s progress over the coming years—belief, pushing beyond comfort zones and responding positively under pressure.

“The biggest challenge is believing, as a unit, that they are capable of achieving what may seem impossible. That belief comes through consistent actions, disciplined preparation and the willingness to keep improving even after setbacks. Players also need to move beyond their comfort zones because limited bench strength can sometimes lead to complacency. Finally, they must learn how to respond—not simply react—to difficult match situations. That is where games are won and lost.”

According to Dr Swaroop, the programme is only the beginning of a longer process.

“My role is to help players integrate mental training into their everyday preparation while working closely with the head coach. I observe players, understand team dynamics and develop practical mental templates that coaches can continue implementing long after I leave.”

Reflecting on the week, he praised the attitude shown by the players. “The positivity was outstanding. They were eager to learn, willing to experiment and very honest about their challenges. That openness made a huge difference. I also saw excellent bonding despite different backgrounds, and coach Sulakshan deserves immense credit for creating that culture. When a team grows together, extraordinary things become possible.”

Oman Cricket Chief Development Officer Duleep Mendis said the initiative would strengthen an area that has often made the difference in close contests. “Dr Swaroop is a veteran who has worked with many successful teams and we believe our players will benefit immensely from his experience. In the past, our team has suffered in pressure situations. This programme will strengthen the mental side of the game and, in the long run, help our players perform with greater confidence and consistency.”

Head coach Sulakshan Kulkarni, who initiated the programme, said addressing the team’s mindset had become a priority as Oman prepare for a demanding international calendar.

“Dr Swaroop is a well-known figure in Indian cricket. He has worked with the BCCI and the champion Vidarbha Ranji team as a mental conditioning expert. We specifically invited him to address mindset and handling match pressure. His week-long programme was outstanding, and our senior men’s team benefited immensely from his knowledge.”

Kulkarni said the players have already begun incorporating the drills introduced during the workshop into their preparations. “He has given them practical exercises that they can continue applying. This was a much-needed learning experience not only for the players but also for the support staff. I sincerely thank Oman Cricket for making this possible.”

With preparatory matches against Goa, Mumbai and Kerala lined up before the ACC Premier Cup and the remaining League 2 fixtures, Oman are focusing on strengthening every aspect of their game — technical, tactical and mental — as they pursue their ambition of establishing themselves among Asia’s leading emerging cricket nations.