VIVO IPL T20 2016: Robin Uthappa, the unsung hero!

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Robin Uthappa has been simply sensational ever since he joined the Indian Premier League outfit Kolkata Knight Riders in 2014.

The 30-year-old from Karnataka has featured in 30 matches for KKR scoring 1059 runs, operating at a strike rate of 134.22 with an healthy average of 37.82, hitting 123 boundaries and smashing 25 sixes in the process. The wicket-keeper batsman has also contributed by taking nine catches and 13 stumpings.

Kolkata Knight Riders vs. Delhi Daredevils – Eden Gardens

Kolkata Knight Riders hosted the Delhi Daredevils in their IPL 9 opening encounter at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata on 10th April, 2016. KKR captain Gautam Gambhir had won the toss and elected to field first. Batting first, DD were all out for a mere 98 runs in 17.4 overs. KKR chased down the target of 99 for the loss of one wicket in 14.1 overs. KKR won the fixture by nine wickets as Windies allrounder Andre Russell was awarded the Man-of-the-Match.

Robin yet again was at his best, he continued to flourish in purple and gold, he took one catch and made one stumping when KKR was fielding before scoring 35 runs off 33 deliveries which included seven boundaries, operating at a strike rate of 106.06.

Robin Uthappa’s Wagon Wheel:

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Robbie, the unsung hero!

Robin Uthappa’s 35 against DD helped him become the sixth player in IPL history to notch 3000 plus runs. Previously, Virat Kohli, Suresh Raina, Rohit Sharma, Gautam Gambhir and Chris Gayle had managed to achieve the feat.

Additionally, Robbie and Gauti now have 981 partnership runs for the first wicket in the IPL, which is the second-most partnership runs for the opening partnership. The duo again notched up a partnership of 69 runs off 58 balls against DD. Only Michael Hussey and Murali Vijay have scored more, which is 1360 runs for the now banned IPL outfit Chennai Super Kings.

Robin Uthappa was also the Orange Cap winner in 2014 IPL campaign with 660 runs. He also remains one of only two Indians to have been awarded the orange cap, the other being legendary batsman Sachin Tendulkar who won the orange cap playing for the Mumbai Indians in 2010 IPL season with 618 runs.

With such performance over the years, Robin Uthappa simply dreamt of playing for India again, but the Board of Control for Cricket in India have continued to neglect the swashbuckling wicket-keeper batsman. But with Indian openers Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan underperforming for quite some time, it will be interesting to see whether Robbie’s performance changes BCCI’s stance in the foreseeable future.

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