Robin Uthappa quits ‘Indian cricket’, may play T20 leagues abroad | Cricket News

BENGALURU: The words ‘I AM’, tattooed in bold on Robin Uthappa’s right forearm, suggest a deep conviction in his abilities, a belief that he is destined for greater things. The key word though was always belief, with which the 36-year-old swashbuckling batter played the sport he loved, with passion and distinction.
On Wednesday evening, Uthappa took to social media to call time on his career, highlighted by a T20 World Cup triumph in 2007, Ranji Trophy titles and success in the IPL. Numbers don’t always reveal the real picture and it is true in Uthappa’s case. In an international career spanning nine years, Uthappa made 46 ODI and 13T20I appearances. It didn’t do justice to the abilities and natural talent which helped him shine in the 2002-03 Ranji Trophy season. He last played for the country against Zimbabwe in an away series in 2015.

Uthappa made his Ranji Trophy debut for Karnataka against Haryana in Faridabad in December 2002. He went on to play 142 first-class matches (see box). Uthappa was part of the golden era of Karnataka cricket when they won back-to-back treble in the 2013-15 and 2014-15 seasons. While being a top-order batsman, he also kept wickets. He left his home state in 2017 and moved to Saurashtra for two seasons, before switching over to Kerala.
While he was prolific in red-ball cricket, it was the shorter format which earned him an Indian cap and accolades. An Indian Premier League veteran, Uthappa played through 15 seasons and represented six franchises – Royal Challengers Bangalore, Pune Warriors India, Mumbai Indians, Rajasthan Royals, Kolkata Knight Riders and Chennai Super Kings. In 291 T20 matches, Uthappa piled up 7,272 runs with 92 being his highest score.

In a note, in which he thanked the people who made a difference to his life and career, he stated, “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 full of ups and downs; one that has been fulfilling, rewarding, enjoyable and has allowed me to grow as a human being.”
Uthappa, who has taken a No-Objection certificate from Kerala, the last domestic team he represented, is likely to feature in overseas T20 leagues.