Hard-hitting batter Robin Uthappa has announced his decision to retire from all forms of Indian cricket, bringing down the curtains on a 20-year-old professional career in the country. Revealing his decision on Twitter, the 36-year-old said he was looking forward to spending time with his young family as well as ‘chart a new phase in his life.’
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. Thank you all ❤️
Uthappa represented India in 59 games (46 ODIs and 13 T20Is), scoring a total of 1183 international runs and was part of the victorious T20 World Cup campaign in 2007. A top-order strokemaker coming up the ranks, Uthappa made his mark with a century at Mohali in the 2006 Challenger Trophy. He made his ODI debut in Indore, scoring 86 against an England attack featuring James Anderson, Liam Plunkett and Sajid Mahmood.
He was picked for the 2007 World Cup in the Caribbean and had a modest campaign in a first-round exit for India. Uthappa was shuffled down the order to a finisher’s role later that year on India’s tour of England and starred with a 33-ball 47 at The Oval. He later played a role in the top-order during India’s run to the T20 World Cup in South Africa and along the way also participated in a famous ‘Bowl Out’ victory over Pakistan during the group stages of that tournament.
Uthappa lost his spot thereafter and made sporadic comebacks in 2014 and 2015. He was, however, a central cog in different IPL franchises during his run in the T20 competition, playing for Mumbai Indians, Royal Challengers Bangalore and Pune Warriors India in the league’s early seasons.
The right-handed batter hit his strides in 2014, winning the Orange Cap in a title-winning season for Kolkata Knight Riders and enjoyed a productive association with the franchise. Seven years later, KKR were at the receiving end of a 15-ball 31 blitz from Uthappa, who helped Chennai Super Kings clinch their fourth IPL crown at the expense of his former franchise. He was retained at his base price of INR 2 crore by CSK ahead of the 2022 season, but managed only 230 runs from 12 innings in a forgettable campaign for the franchise
In all, Uthappa aggregated 4952 runs from 205 IPL games at a strike-rate of 130.35 including 27 half-centuries. In a first class career spanning 142 games, most of which coming for his home state of Karnataka, Uthappa totalled 9446 runs at an average of 40.46 including 22 centuries and was a member of a side that achieved the domestic treble (Ranji Trophy, Vijay Hazare Trophy, Irani Trophy) in back-to-back seasons between 2013 and 2015.
CREDIT: Cricbuzz
