The Realist Posted May 29, 2014 Posted May 29, 2014 After being dropped from the Indian team in 2008, Robin Uthappa has staged a chest-thumping comeback. Tests, however still elude the player, with selectors stereotyping him as a slam-bam player. R Vishal has more. After years in the wilderness, Robin Uthappa has made a roaring comeback to Team India after a six-year absence. The elegant Karnataka opener would have liked his reinstatement earlier in the season, but his irresistible Indian Premier League (IPL) 2014 form left the selectors with little choice. The 28-year old is now a part of the second-string team that will travel to Bangladesh for just three One-Day Internationals (ODIs). Being left out for the lengthy tour of England, though, would have left a bitter taste in his mouth. Much before IPL started, Uthappa went through a stunning run of from that led Karnataka to a unique hat-trick of titles — the Ranji, Vijay Hazare and Irani trophies — in 2013-14. Uthappa finished with a whopping average of 89 during Karnataka’s historic season and the insightful adjustments in play should have been rewarded. During the time, openers Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan were going through a torrid run first in New Zealand and then in the Asia Cup. In an unforgiving battleground with a conveyor belt of talent, first impressions become hard to erase. Uthappa lost his place because of a poor run of form in 2008, and was widely criticised for his flashy stroke-play and constant shuffling at the crease. Speaking to cricketcountry.com after basking in Karnataka’s Ranji Trophy glory, he said “I had already fixed a lot of my technique about 18 months ago. I started working on my batting about 18 months ago and by beginning of the last year, I had fixed my batting and was feeling really confident about my technique.” Hitting the ball in the air far too often also played a part in his downfall earlier and a few more adjustments created the now impregnable aura of Uthappa at the crease. “People started seeing a difference in the way I tended to bat. You can see I have a big back-lift now, which is not something I used to have. I did have it, but it is not as big as it is right now. It gives me time to play deliveries and I play a lot more with my top-hand right now. I feel I play more correct cricket, which I enjoy. I give confidence to the team with the way I bat right now.” Uthappa added. Uthappa has also proved that he is more than handy as a glove-man — a role that he was pushed into only a few years ago. He perhaps should have been considered as a permanent cover for MS Dhoni, ahead of the long-standing Wriddhiman Saha. In the seam and swing of old blighty, Uthappa’s technique scores over Rohit and Dhawan’s. The duo’s struggles away from home are well-documented, and those same demons might resurface against the likes of James Anderson and Stuart Broad. After being pummelled regularly away from the subcontinent, India needed to play all its cards right in the 5-match series. By not cashing in on Uthappa’s run rolling form, they might have just missed a trick. http://www.cricketcountry.com/articles/has-india-missed-a-trick-by-omitting-robin-uthappa-from-england-series-142763 Certainly was worth taking along on the Eng tour especially as his technique is superior to the likes of Nohit who consistently gets cleaned up by straight balls. But his technique would probably embarrass Dhoni therefore he only gets to play in a pointless ODI series.
vamos_rafa Posted May 30, 2014 Posted May 30, 2014 Ye sab ek hi thali ke chatte batte hai. Selection non selection of anyone wouldn't really matter.
saneindian Posted May 30, 2014 Posted May 30, 2014 In which season did Uthappa average 89? Last FC season he scored 374 runs @42 in 6 matches with just 1 100. In comparison Gauti did better scoring 743 runs@46 with 2 100s. Gambhir also scored another couple of 100s since losing his test spot, one vs Aus in a practice match and another in England. Dont think there was anything wrong with gauti being picked as the third opener. Robin did well in the shorter formats and has been picked for BD ODIs and will most likely play the England ODIs as well.
maniac Posted May 30, 2014 Posted May 30, 2014 Nice to see robin in the scheme of things....has been far from that over the top show pony he was at the start. Looks hungry to succeed and that is a good sign
GautiMaan Posted May 30, 2014 Posted May 30, 2014 Nice to see robin in the scheme of things....has been far from that over the top show pony he was at the start. Looks hungry to succeed and that is a good sign He might just make Rozilla extict.
FischerTal Posted May 30, 2014 Posted May 30, 2014 He might just make Rozilla extict. sooner the better
maniac Posted May 30, 2014 Posted May 30, 2014 He might just make Rozilla extict. sooner the better :hysterical: haterz gonna hate Odi200,back2backtest100sondebut,overseas50,highestt20wcaverage etc etc phew so many to list. Only slot open for uthappa is yuvi/Raina in loi or no 3 in tests :giggle:
kubrickian Posted May 30, 2014 Posted May 30, 2014 :hysterical: haterz gonna hate Odi200,back2backtest100sondebut,overseas50,highestt20wcaverage etc etc phew so many to list. Only slot open for uthappa is yuvi/Raina in loi or no 3 in tests :giggle: He will definitely open in BD ODIs and if he does well, Rozilla will have to fight for No.4 spot.
StriKe Posted May 30, 2014 Posted May 30, 2014 He will definitely open in BD ODIs and if he does well' date=' Rozilla will have to fight for No.4 spot. [/quote'] :woot: Hope it happens
velu Posted May 30, 2014 Posted May 30, 2014 :hysterical: haterz gonna hate Odi200,back2backtest100sondebut,overseas50,highestt20wcaverage etc etc phew so many to list. Only slot open for uthappa is yuvi/Raina in loi or no 3 in tests :giggle: lowestrunscoredbyatailderinaodiseriesissetbyrohithowcanyouforgotthat :--D
Switchblade Posted June 1, 2014 Posted June 1, 2014 :hysterical: haterz gonna hate Odi200,back2backtest100sondebut,overseas50,highestt20wcaverage etc etc phew so many to list. Only slot open for uthappa is yuvi/Raina in loi or no 3 in tests :giggle: :hysterical::hysterical::hysterical::hysterical: Flat track where he scored 200 then scored against a weak team and when he toured South Africa became a mental midget and started crying come to India,Failed in the finals when it mattered :giggle:
achilles Posted June 1, 2014 Posted June 1, 2014 Dhobi is clearly at it. With his stocks dipping by the hour, he's pushing away potential threats for his position. Nothing wrong for a crooked politician like him. But not the most ethical thing to do.
Cricket_Hacker Posted June 1, 2014 Posted June 1, 2014 :hysterical::hysterical::hysterical::hysterical: Flat track where he scored 200 then scored against a weak team and when he toured South Africa became a mental midget and started crying come to India' date='Failed in the finals when it mattered :giggle:[/quote'] When does South Africa tour India ? They havent for quite a while
cowboysfan Posted June 1, 2014 Posted June 1, 2014 I last saw Uthappa in the Ranjis and he does struggle against the moving ball,i wouldnt pick him for England.
Austin 3:!6 Posted June 1, 2014 Posted June 1, 2014 Lol no...Uthappa still does not give me any confidence. He might have had a good IPL but test match opening in England is not his cup of tea. We should never go back again to a long omitted player like Robin.
undisputed chap Posted June 3, 2014 Posted June 3, 2014 Will be slightly better in nohits spot in tests in eng imo
Forever Indian Posted June 3, 2014 Posted June 3, 2014 Will be slightly better in nohits spot in tests in eng imo Anybody will be better than Nohit in his position tbh :winky:
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