 Robin Uthappa has given some promising performances as India's opening batsman in the past. The 24 years old cricketer made his debut in the Indian national
team back in 2006. Robin Uthappa scored 86 runs in his first international
match which is highest score by an Indian debutant in a limited over match.
Due to his tactic of charging a bowler, he was nicknamed as "The Walking
Assassin". However the young cricketer had been out of action for a while
due to shoulder injury. But he has recently undergone a surgery and is all set
to make a comeback in the cricketing arena.
Uthappa used to play as an opening batsman before but has now decided to concentrate
more on wicket keeping and shaping himself as a middle order batsman. Uthappa
said that he would play as a middle order batsman in all formats of the game
as he speculates that if he gets selected in the Indian national team, he would
be chosen to play the same role. Uthappa said that he wants to mould himself
in that form from starting itself so that he would be prepared for the big games.
With Indian middle order star Yuvraj Singh out of form, it seems that
Uthappa might have a chance to make it into the team as a middle order batsman.
He said that the selectors had enquired about his fitness before choosing team
for the Zimbabwe series, but unfortunately he could not make it to the team
that time as he had to undergo a surgery. Uthappa regrets missing the opportunity
and recollects those post surgery days as the most painful days of his life.
But Uthappa is determined to start his cricketing career afresh. He said that
he is looking forward to the domestic cricketing championships, particularly
Ranji Trophy. He will play for Royal Challengers Banglore in the upcoming
Champions League T20. It is expected that Uthappa will resume his duties as
a wicketkeeper for the RCB. His powerful shots in the last T20 season brought
him to the attention of the national selectors.
Uthappa so far, has had a brief but lustrous International cricketing career.
Considered as a limited over game specialist, Uthappa made a significant contribution
in the Indian T20 team, that won World Cup, back in 2007. He scored 50 against
Pakistan in a T20 World cup match against Pakistan in South Africa, becoming
first Indian batsman to score a half century in an international T-20 match.
However he had not played for India after 2008 and was handed a grade-C contract.
Uthappa is currently learning techniques to improve his wicket keeping skills
at the National Cricket Academy and would start batting on the nets from next
week.
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