'I was suicidal during 2009 IPL' - Robin Uthappa breaks silence on his clinical depression

Former Indian batter  Robin Uthappa recently announced his retirement from all forms of Indian cricket. The right-handed took to social media to announce his retirement as he penned a long note paying gratitude to his friends and family members for giving him strength throughout his cricketing career.

In recent turn of developments, Uthappa has made a shocking revelation stating that he was going through clinical depression and he didn't even know about it. The former cricketer also said that he was suicidal during the 2009 Indian Premier League (IPL). 

'I began going through clinical depression in 2009 and I didn't even know. During the 2009 IPL, I was suicidal,' Uthappa told ESPNcricinfo. 

Robin Uthappa was traded from MI to RCB in IPL 2009

Uthappa made his debut for the five-time champions Mumbai Indians (MI) during the inaugural season of the IPL, but he was picked by Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) for the second edition. 

 "I was going through something in my personal life and I was completely into depression during my first season with RCB. I didn’t play well even for one game that season. The only game in which I did well was when I was dropped and picked again. I played thinking that I needed to do something in this match. Someone from MI had told me that if I didn’t sign the transfer papers, I’d not get to play in the XI for MI," Uthappa had said earlier. 

Despite playing his last international match against Zimbabwe in 2009, Uthappa enjoyed a fair run in the IPL. The right-handed batter played several good knocks for the Red Army before he joined Kolkata Knight Riders and was part of the team's winning squad during the 2014 IPL. 

The Men in Purple won an exciting contest against Punjab Kings (then Kings XI Punjab) in the final match of the competition to clinch the trophy. Uthappa also bagged the Orange Cap for scoring the most runs in the competition during that year. Later on, he was traded to Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and turned up as a decent performer for the Men in Yellow as well.