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Tag: Robin Uthappa

  • Robin Uthappa retires from all forms of ‘Indian cricket’

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: Former India opener Robin Uthappa, one of the heroes of the 2007 T20 World Cup winning national team, on Wednesday announced his retirement from all forms of “Indian cricket”.

    The 36-year-old Uthappa, who last played for India in 2015, made the announcement on his social media handles.

    “It has been my greatest honour to represent my country and my state, Karnataka. However, all good things must come to an end, and with a grateful heart, I have decided to retire from all forms of Indian cricket,” Uthappa said.

    “It’s been 20 years since I started playing professional cricket, and it has been the greatest honour to represent my country and state, Karnataka- a wonderful journey of ups and downs; one that has been fulfilling, rewarding, enjoyable and allowed me to grow as a human being.”

    With Wednesday’s announcement, the right-handed Karnataka batter is eligible to play in leagues of other countries.

    Uthappa was part of the country’s 2004 Under-19 World Cup team. He made his India debut two years later and featured in 46 ODIs and 13 T20Is for India.

    He scored 934 and 249 runs in ODIs and T20Is. He has 9446 first class and 6534 List A runs under his belt. Uthappa has won two IPL trophies — one for KKR and one for CSK in 2014 and 2021 respectively.

    NEW DELHI: Former India opener Robin Uthappa, one of the heroes of the 2007 T20 World Cup winning national team, on Wednesday announced his retirement from all forms of “Indian cricket”.

    The 36-year-old Uthappa, who last played for India in 2015, made the announcement on his social media handles.

    “It has been my greatest honour to represent my country and my state, Karnataka. However, all good things must come to an end, and with a grateful heart, I have decided to retire from all forms of Indian cricket,” Uthappa said.

    “It’s been 20 years since I started playing professional cricket, and it has been the greatest honour to represent my country and state, Karnataka- a wonderful journey of ups and downs; one that has been fulfilling, rewarding, enjoyable and allowed me to grow as a human being.”

    With Wednesday’s announcement, the right-handed Karnataka batter is eligible to play in leagues of other countries.

    Uthappa was part of the country’s 2004 Under-19 World Cup team. He made his India debut two years later and featured in 46 ODIs and 13 T20Is for India.

    He scored 934 and 249 runs in ODIs and T20Is. He has 9446 first class and 6534 List A runs under his belt. Uthappa has won two IPL trophies — one for KKR and one for CSK in 2014 and 2021 respectively.

  • Bravo, Jadeja, Moeen: Check what the Super Kings had to say after CSK win IPL 2021

    By PTI

    DUBAI: Dwayne Bravo said as it should be said, “Experience beats youth any day”.

    The West Indies all-rounder once again played his part to perfection in Chennai Super King’s fourth Indian Premier League title triumph and summed up the journey of his side which his team-mate Moeen Ali termed “humble and grounded”.

    Deepak Chahar, on his part, said the love and loyalty for skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni made the players push the envelope a little harder.

    “It’s about the belief in the squad from management, owners. After last season, I was really disappointed. We owed it to the franchise, the fans to come up with a better performance. I don’t get nervous (coming into a final),” Bravo said after the match.

    “I have had good performance in different phases of the tournament. Faf and Ruturaj standout for us. To have these two guys scoring over 500 runs together. Experience beats youth any day,” he said.

    ALSO READ: Shardul Thakur turns things for CSK to lift fourth IPL trophy; beat KKR by 27 runs

    England all-rounder Moeen expressed his gratitude when he wasn’t dropped after a few indifferent games.

    “I can’t describe how I’m feeling. To do it with this franchise is great. I could’ve been dropped a couple of games ago. It’s such a grounded and humble team,” said Moeen.

    Ravindra Jadeja on his part said: “That catch of Venkatesh Iyer changed it for us. Mr DJ Bravo is going to entertain us all night. It’s time for him to change his name from ‘Champion’ to ‘Sir Champion’.”

    Robin Uthappa, who joined the party late, also spoke about how CSK made players secure.

    “I’ve voiced over and over again that in this team, there’s secure atmosphere, lot of communication between players and support staff. I believe its the players who aren’t playing in the XI that make the atmosphere within the group.”

    ALSO READ: Harshal Patel sweeps individual honours for season, including MVP

    Australia pacer Josh Hazlewood credited Bravo for getting into the T20 bowling groove.

    “It’s fantastic. Full credit to the guys, who have been on top. It’s exciting. We’ve got a such a senior team, and having DJ (Bravo) has been really helpful.

    “A bit of downtime, and I’m straight for the World Cup. Perfect preparation really, and I am looking forward to it.”

  • Robin Uthappa story indicative of Chennai Super Kings’s IPL record

    Express News Service

    CHENNAI: Amidst the euphoria of witnessing a late flourish from MS Dhoni’s willow — allowing fans to indulge in some wistful nostalgia of what the man from Ranchi was once capable of — it shouldn’t be forgotten that the platform for Chennai Super Kings’ victory on Sunday was set by another man in the twilight of his career. Robin Uthappa has been a formidable contributor for various teams in the IPL — his days with Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) being the apogee — but he had struggled to find his groove in the past couple of seasons. On Sunday, like Dhoni, Uthappa chose a great time to turn back the clock with an innings of 63 off 44 balls.

    While Uthappa of course deserves all the credit for doing the job, the fact that the former India batter was persisted with in the first place illustrates why CSK have entered their ninth IPL final (out of the 12 seasons that they have played). In his two games before Sunday, Uthappa had managed scores of just 19 and 2. The 35-year-old had come into the side only as a replacement for an injured Suresh Raina. While the latter was admittedly struggling for runs himself, it would have been so easy for Chennai to send Uthappa back to warm the bench for Qualifier 1 against Delhi. Raina, after all, has served Chennai incredibly well in big games over the years and knows the team’s template far better than the man from Karnataka. But as Stephen Fleming reminded after the game, Chennai seldom drop somebody without giving them a proper go. So once Uthappa had found his way into the side, he was going to get every opportunity possible to make it count.

    “We are proud of every performance that a player puts up that helps us win the game. That was pretty special from Uthappa. He had been out of action for a long time. He has been training hard. An opportunity came up. And as everyone knows, when opportunities are given, we tend to stick with players a little bit longer than the rest. He has repaid us in bucket loads. His intent was good right from the first ball. It was flashes of his old self. His partnership with Ruturaj (Gaikwad) set the match up for us,” Fleming explained.

    Considering the huge stakes involved in the IPL, team owners, in particular, tend to be ruthless with their decisions, often demanding too much too soon and missing out on drawing the optimum from a potential match-winner. But CSK, refreshingly, haven’t been prone to that sort of mindset. The likes of Shane Watson have spoken about how it has helped them prolong their IPL journeys. Uthappa seems to be enjoying the benefits of that relaxed environment now.  

    “There were doubts (whether he would play or not). You listen to a lot of chatter that is happening outside. I just felt I would be able to contribute. This is one of the most secure franchises going around. That only makes a player give that much back to the franchise,” Uthappa said. 

  • After Gambhir-led KKR, CSK is where I have felt most secure: Robin Uthappa

    By ANI

    DUBAI: Chennai Super Kings (CSK) batsman Robin Uthappa, who played a match-winning knock against Delhi Capitals on Sunday, said he has felt the most secure in the Yellow Camp in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021.

    Uthappa, who had earlier played for KKR under Gautam Gambhir’s leadership, launched a counterattack after Faf du Plessis’ early dismissal. The right-handed batsman smashed 63 off 44 balls as CSK defeated Delhi Capitals by four wickets.

    “I always maintain that this has been one of the most secure franchises going around and everyone feels secure within the group and I think that only makes a player only give that much more to the franchise,” Uthappa said during the post-match presentation.

    “After KKR, when Gauti was the captain I really enjoyed myself there and felt really secure in that group but after that this is the most secure I’ve felt while playing cricket in a while.

    “It’s gonna be interesting and exciting and really looking forward to it. I just like to take the opportunity to say everyone in the world out there — let’s be kind, the world needs it,” he added.

    Uthappa warmed the bench for CSK before he got the opportunity to bat in the last few games of the league stage. The right-handed batsman dedicated his knock to his son, who was celebrating his birthday on Sunday.

    “Happy that I was able to contribute. Today is my son’s birthday and this one’s for him. When I went out to bat we knew we needed a good start, so I just tried to react to the ball and play according to the merit,” said Uthappa.

    “Hopefully it’s nothing serious (about his injury), seems like it’s a little bit of a niggle and we have got 4 days to go so I should be good. There were days when there were doubts to be honest, when you don’t get to play these doubts tend to creep in and I try to make sure that I shut myself from the outside world, I just stuck to that and I just felt that at some point I will be able to contribute to the team in a way that’s really meaningful and I’m really grateful for God that I have been able to do that today,” he signed off. 

  • Robin, Ruturaj spearhead chase, Dhoni finishes off in style as CSK beat DC to reach IPL final

    By PTI

    DUBAI: Chennai Super Kings enter Indian Premier League final after beating Delhi Capitals by four wickets in the first Qualifier here on Sunday.

    CSK reached the target of 173 with two balls to spare with captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni remaining not out on 18 off six deliveries.

    Ruturaj Gaikwad top-scored with a 50-ball 70 while Robin Uthappa contributed a 44-ball 63.

    For DC, Tom Curran took three wickets while Anrich Nortje and Avesh Khan got one each.

    Earlier, Prithvi Shaw top-scored with a 34-ball 60, while captain Rishabh Pant and Shimron Hetmyer contributed 51 not out and 37 respectively after DC scored 172 for 5 after being invited to bat.

    Josh Hazlewood was the pick of CSK bowlers with figures of 2/29 while Ravindra Jadeja, Dwayne Bravo and Moeen Ali took a wicket apiece.

    Brief Scores:

    Delhi Capitals: 172 for 5 in 20 overs (Prithvi Shaw 60, Rishabh Pant 51 not out; Josh Hazlewood 2/29).

    Chennai Super Kings: 173 for 6 in 19.4 overs (Ruturaj Gaikwad 70, Robin Uthappa 63; Tom Curran 3/29).