Former Indian cricketer Robin Uthappa recently shared insightful revelations about his early years in the Indian Premier League (IPL). Uthappa, who had a notable IPL career playing for several franchises, particularly opened up about his initial transition from Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) to Pune Warriors India, which came as a surprise to him.
In his interview with Sportstar, Uthappa expressed his disappointment about not being retained by RCB ahead of the 2011 edition of the IPL. Despite his impressive performances, Uthappa found himself moving to Pune Warriors India for a significant sum of ₹9.66 crore during the IPL auction.
He shared, “I felt bad when I moved from RCB to Pune Warriors India because I would have loved to play for RCB. In fact, I thought I’d get retained because I won the award for hitting the highest number of sixes and won a few matches single-handedly.”
Uthappa also reflected on the challenges he faced during his first year with RCB in 2009. He admitted that it was tough for him to switch loyalties as he had a strong attachment to Mumbai Indians, his first IPL franchise. Uthappa acknowledged the role of RCB’s coach at the time, Ray Jennings, in his career, describing their relationship as cordial.
Uthappa talks about Ray Jennings
He said, “Ray Jennings was an incredible coach and literally took care of me as a son there. We shared a very cordial relationship. Even though he was a hard taskmaster, I enjoyed my time with him.” Uthappa also mentioned that he was signed by Kolkata Knight Riders as a middle-order batsman but was eager to open the innings, considering his successful run in domestic cricket as an opener. He had to convince the KKR captain, Gautam Gambhir, to make the change, which ultimately turned out to be a pivotal moment in his career.
He recalled, “I had to win Gautam Gambhir’s confidence. It took a process for me to be able to start opening the batting with Gauti in that season. It wasn’t an easy process because I was picked as a middle-order batter.” His efforts paid off, and he enjoyed success as an opener, contributing significantly to KKR’s triumph in the 2014 season.
Uthappa’s journey in the IPL was marked by adaptability and his ability to excel in different roles, making him a seasoned campaigner in the tournament.
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