NAGPUR:
It’s been a strange career so far for Robin Uthappa . He was always considered an impact player, someone who could take the game away within no time; someone who could blast any bowling attack; someone who could respond with fire.
Five years ago, when the 20-year-old Uthappa announced his arrival on the international stage with a fluent fifty against the touring England side, everyone felt he was going to stay for a long time.
Five years later, the Karnataka opener is still searching for a permanent spot in the team. Once an integral part of India’s one-day team, Uthappa was used as floater by skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni but now he is eyeing a comeback as an opener.
Back to his favourite opening position, Uthappa blasted 189 runs in two innings of the Challenger Trophy. On Tuesday, he missed out on a bright start while playing an unnecessary shot.
The next day he showed everyone how dangerous he could be if he bats for a long time. The India Green opener made mockery of India Blue and went on to make a brilliant 132 (103b, 14×4, 3×6).
“I enjoy opening. I play my best at the top order and when things go my way, more often than not I put the team into a good position. I like to open, whichever format I play. When I played for the Indian team, I chose to bat up and down for the sake of the team. But now I will stick to the opening and not anywhere else. It’s a good start to the season. I will try to build on these good starts to big scores,” Uthappa said.
The 25-year-old feels he is coming back to his best because he has again started playing his natural game.
“I have been playing my natural game in the last four five months. I enjoy myself when I open the batting and I really feel I am coming into my own . The season has just begun. It will be a very important one season, especially with Ranji Trophy coming. I am ready for the challenge,” he said.
Uthappa has been a confidence player. When he looks assured, he generally makes any bowling attack look ordinary. India Red and India Blue sides have already suffered at his hands on successive days.
“I am an instinctive player. Instinctively, when I feel like going for a shot, I back myself and go for it. There are advantages and disadvantages of instinctive and aggressive batsman. When it comes up right, it looks beautiful, but the same shot looks ugly when you get out. I am definitely trying to play longer because if I do that it would be beneficial for the side I am playing for. I am working hard on that, but you don’t expect results overnight. It’s a process,” Uthappa said.
His aggressive intents have often led to his downfall but he is unfazed by it. “I have played cricket one way all my life. It’s better for me to continue playing the way I have been playing. If I play like Rahul Dravid or Badrinath, I won’t be very successful. I am going to play aggressively and that brings out the best in me. That’s the way my team and people like to me to bat,” said Uthappa.
source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / by Ruchir Mishra / TNN/ Home> Sports> Cricket> Interview / October 13th, 2011
