Washington Sundar and Sai Sudharsan’s recent rise in red-ball cricket is rooted not just in skill but in mental mastery. Behind the scenes, mental conditioning coach Raymun Roy has blended yoga, neuroscience, and cricket analysis into a unique framework. Techniques like quantum breathwork, hypnotherapy, and visualization have helped the duo stay calm, focused, and dominant under pressure.
Ahmedabad: Cricketers Washington Sundar and Sai Sudharsan have been consistently delivering impressive performances, showcasing a remarkable rise in their game. Sundar proved to be a match-winner in India’s recent Test series against England. Similarly, Sudharsan demonstrated his clinical prowess during India A’s four-day matches against Australia A, notably scoring a century in the second match as his team successfully chased a formidable target of 412. A key factor behind their consistent success is undoubtedly their mental fortitude, which allows them to dominate opponents and maintain composure under intense pressure. Many have speculated about the source of Sundar and Sudharsan’s exceptional clarity of thought. The answer lies in an innovative mental conditioning framework developed by coach Raymun Roy. This unique program integrates ancient yogic practices, cutting-edge neuroscience, and detailed cricket analysis. Sundar has trained with Roy for almost two years, while Sudharsan joined the program after the IPL 2023 final.
“No one knows that Sai and Sundar have been training with me. It’s like a secret being executed behind the scenes,” Roy revealed.
Interestingly, Roy himself started as a cricketer. However, a significant injury led him to explore yoga, which ultimately transformed his path.
“A trip to Sivananda Yoga Ashram in Kerala completely changed my life,” Roy recounted. “One day, a question crossed my mind about combining yoga and cricket, and from that moment, everything shifted.”
Roy’s specialized yoga sessions incorporate Vipassana, Pranayama, and a unique technique called quantum breathwork. This breathwork helps cricketers maintain profound calm and improve their reactions, allowing them to focus entirely on the present moment and release worries about outcomes. Quantum breathwork can be practiced throughout the day, even between deliveries, to quickly re-enter a state of optimal focus.
Alongside yoga, Roy utilizes advanced neuroscience techniques like hypnotherapy, which allows players to access their subconscious minds in mere minutes. This, combined with visualization, goal-setting, and reactive cognitive training, helps cricketers mentally rehearse matches, effectively dissolving pre-game anxiety.
“I continuously integrate new methods, such as solution-focused brief therapy (SFBT),” Roy explained, likening it to a “gym for the brain.” He also incorporates detailed cricket analysis to fine-tune game plans, adapt to opponents, and maximize player effectiveness.
Roy’s holistic approach significantly elevates player performance by enhancing focus. He has successfully coached hundreds of Indian cricketers, including Manan Vohra, and many international players. “I don’t actively market myself; it’s all been through word of mouth,” Roy stated. “Initially, convincing cricketers was a challenge, but they quickly saw the benefits.”
Sai Sudharsan, for instance, sought out Roy specifically for breathwork, visualization, and meditation. Roy ensures Sai practices these techniques daily, which has proven transformative. Sai’s dedication is evident, as he consistently makes himself available for sessions, even scheduling them at midnight during the IPL. Roy’s role, he says, is to guide Sai into a deep, trance-like state, centered on observing his breath.
“I’ve taught Sai specific breathing techniques that he uses before matches,” Roy explained. “He practices moving the ball in front of his eyes and changing its position to activate his neuro system. Just as commentators often say a batsman batting for an hour sees the cricket ball like a football, by training your mind and activating your prefrontal cortex before stepping out to bat, you can see the ball even more clearly, complemented by a profound calmness from the breathing techniques.”
Roy emphasized that Sai remains completely focused from the very first ball, and his impressive run-scoring testifies to the effectiveness of these methods. “He’s always the first to embrace new techniques I introduce, thanks to our deep trust,” Roy added.
“Roy’s modules have made a significant difference,” Sudharsan affirmed. “Breathwork, in particular, has immensely helped me stay in the present moment and react effectively on the field. Controlling your breath empowers you to control many other aspects of your performance.”
Roy’s collaboration with Sundar began in December 2023 during India’s South Africa tour, sparked by Sundar’s conversation with Sai. “Sundar was curious about the breathing and meditation techniques Sai mentioned,” Roy recalled. “He was very clear: he’d commit to ten sessions, but wouldn’t continue if he didn’t find them beneficial. However, he was thoroughly satisfied and requested I travel with him during IPL 2024. Through our breathing and meditation sessions, Sundar consistently reports feeling highly aware, conscious, and deeply present.”
At one point, Roy considered leaving cricket entirely to become a full-time yoga teacher. “However, cricket didn’t let me go,” he mused. He spent six months freelancing as a cricket analyst, but the overwhelming workload made him long to dedicate himself solely to yoga. Yet, fate intervened, and he now finds himself deeply immersed in the sport again, with a growing roster of clients – a journey from a man with a laptop in Tiruchirappalli to a sought-after mental conditioning coach.