My remarks on Virat Kohli impacted our relationship: Robin Uthappa

Former Indian cricketer Robin Uthappa has recently reflected on an interview he gave in 2019 during which he had lambasted Virat Kohli for not selecting Ambati Rayudu in India's squad for the ODI World Cup in the same year. Rayudu retired from all formats of international cricket in July 2019, after being hurt on losing a place in the squad despite impressive performances.

Reflecting on the discussion, Uthappa admitted that his relationship with Kohli had deteriorated ever since the Karnataka batter had come out in the public with his criticism. The ex-Indian wicketkeeper, however, feels that he should have consulted Kohli first before making the sharp remarks on the then captain of the Indian team.  

"In that whole conversation, the intent was not to speak about Virat. That interview was meant to be about me. I was asked a question which I spoke to. I didn't take into consideration at that point the sentiments of Virat or the fact that even if this is what I believe, he should know what I believe and that gives me the right to voice that. My relationship or my camaraderie with Virat was impacted by that. I saw that for what it was, just based on that one-on-one relationship. My learning from that was, when I spoke to him about it, I acknowledged that I should have spoken to him before, even if it was what I believed," stated Uthappa on his YouTube channel.

Uthappa reiterated the above point and shared that despite having an issue with Kohli's 'style of leadership', he should have been more sensitive about the matter in hindsight. The 39-year-old concluded by advocating a sentiment of thoughtfulness amongst members of the cricket community. The Coorg-born says he has taken it as a life learning.

"I didn't speak about my experience with Virat. I spoke about what I saw one of my closest friends experience under his leadership. It wasn't even his leadership, it was the style of leadership. Everyone is entitled to have their own style of leadership, and everyone is entitled to have their opinion. I felt, at least for my relationship with him, I should have spoken to him about it before I spoke about it on national television. That was my learning from that, and I think that sensitivity we must extend to cricketers or people in the same fraternity," he added.

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For the unversed, Rayudu had been openly backed by Kohli to fit in the No. 4 for India several months preceding the World Cup. However, the Guntoor-born was not selected in the squad for the mega tournament, as selectors preferred all-rounder Vijay Shankar instead. Kohli's fitness standards and management style had come under criticism during that period.