IPL 2021: Robin Uthappa expresses his desire to open the batting for CSK in the tournament

Veteran batsman Robin Uthappa has expressed his desire of playing as an opener for Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the upcoming season of the Indian Premier League (IPL). Uthappa had plied his trade for Rajasthan Royals (RR) in the last edition of the tournament before CSK traded in the senior right-handed batsman earlier this year.

In the last couple of seasons of IPL, Uthappa was mostly used as a middle-order batsman by Kolkata Knight Riders and the Royals. In both seasons, he failed to deliver as per his reputation. In IPL 2019, Uthappa scored 282 runs in 12 games while scoring just one half-century. In the last edition, he could not even touch the 200-run mark and scored only 196 runs in 12 outings.

And as Uthappa looks to prove himself in the IPL once again, he is keen to open the innings in the upcoming season. In a chat with the Times of India, the 35-year-old stated that he could have performed well in the last two seasons had he been allowed to open the innings instead of batting in the middle-order.

“I would definitely like to play as an opener. It is where I naturally thrive. Getting the team off to a good start and winning matches for the team is what I am most comfortable doing. In the last few years, people have tried to use me in positions that I am not necessarily good at. It is probably why you have seen a dip in performance. But whenever I have opened the batting, I have done really well,” said Uthappa.

Talking about his performance at difference batting positions, Uthappa’s best performance has come as a no.3 batsman. So far, he has scored 1,425 runs at an average of 32.39 at that position.  As an opener, he has scored 2,057 runs at an average of 27.43. But at No.4 and No.5, his average drops to 27.45 and 17.44 respectively.

Robin Uthappa on MS Dhoni

Playing for CSK will see Uthappa sharing the dressing room with MS Dhoni after a long time.  Their friendship goes a long way back. Uthappa and Dhoni shared the dressing room for India for the first time in 2006. In the following year, he played an integral role in India’s triumph at the T20 World Cup under Dhoni’s captaincy. Ahead of the reunion, Uthappa opened up on his friendship with the former India skipper.

“I have got the fondest memories with Dhoni. We met for the first time during a Challenger Trophy campaign and played an NCA (National Cricket Academy) match together around 2004. We were very close when we were playing for India together. Since then, we have always been in touch. Our families are pretty close to each other as well. Our relationship has grown over the years. Even our kids are friends today,” said Uthappa.