Robin Uthappa, a prominent cricketer, left an indelible mark on the art of run-scoring with his aggressive style during his prime in international cricket, notably contributing to India’s ICC T20 World Cup 2007 victory.
However, as his career progressed, his performances declined, ultimately leading to his omission from the national team. In his 46 ODIs and 13 T20Is for India, he accumulated 934 and 249 runs, along with six fifties in ODIs and one in T20Is. Although his international career faced setbacks, he thrived in the IPL.
Uthappa embarked on his IPL journey with the Mumbai Indians and subsequently joined the Royal Challengers Bangalore for the 2009 and 2010 seasons. Despite his success, RCB chose not to retain him for the fourth edition of the IPL, a decision that surprised and disappointed him.
He fondly recalled his time with RCB, especially under coach Ray Jennings, who played a fatherly role in his development. In 2011, Uthappa started a new chapter with the now-defunct Pune Warriors India, commanding a significant price of Rs 9.66 crore at the IPL auction.
He went on to play a total of 205 games, amassing 4952 runs at an average of 27.5 and an impressive strike rate of 130.3, including 27 half-centuries. His IPL journey concluded with the Chennai Super Kings in the 2022 season, marking the end of his international and Indian cricket career at the age of 37.
