Former India star Robin Uthappa has attempted a fresh jab at current Team India star Virat Kohli, suggesting he cherry-picked players in the team during his captaincy reign on the basis of likes and dislikes. Uthappa, who has been making headlines of late with some bold comments, has claimed that Ambati Rayudu was left out of India’s 2019 ODI World Cup team as Kohli “didn’t like him”. Rayudu’s omission from the team came at the last minute, with all-rounder Vijay Shankar replacing him in India’s World Cup squad, leaving the entire Indian cricketing spectrum baffled.

Rayudu’s shock absence from India’s ODI World Cup squad had triggered a big controversy at that time, with the player himself also taking to social media to mock the selection committee’s decision.

While it was reported at that time that the then-selection committee chief MSK Prasad had the biggest role to play in Rayudu’s snub, Uthappa has now claimed that Kohli also had a role to play.

“If he (Virat Kohli) didn’t like anyone, he didn’t feel someone is good, then they were cut. (Ambati) Rayudu is the prime example. You feel bad. Everybody has preferences, I agree but you cannot close the door on a player after taking him to the cusp. He had World Cup clothes, World Cup kit bag, everything was there at his home. A player would be thinking that he is going to the World Cup. But you shut the door on him. That wasn’t fair according to me,” Uthappa revealed during an interview with Lallantop.

In an interview, MSK Prasad had claimed that other selectors and the team’s captain at that time (Kohli) also had a say in selecting the final roster for the ODI World Cup in 2019.

Earlier, Uthappa had also accused Virat of cutting short Yuvraj Singh‘s international career. Uthappa claimed that Kohli didn’t make selection a little easier for Yuvraj when he tried to cement his spot back in India’s ODI team after winning his battle against cancer.

An old interview of former India player Yuvraj Singh has gone viral, after ex-batter Robin Uthappa held Virat Kohli indirectly responsible for cutting short the all-rounder’s international career. In a recent interview, Uthappa claimed that Yuvraj’s request for certain fitness concessions during his return to the team after beating cancer was denied by the then India captain Kohli. One of India’s finest players in white-ball cricket, Yuvraj was one of the big reasons for the team’s twin World Cup success under MS Dhoni‘s leadership, but after the title triumph in the 2011 ODI showpiece, he was diagnosed with cancer and was promptly treated for the same in the US.

Yuvraj then made a remarkable recovery to fight his way back into the Indian team and also scored a hundred against England in an ODI, but after a quiet outing in the Champions Trophy in 2017, he was ignored and decided to retire from the game in 2019.

In the old interview, Yuvraj revealed how he was treated towards the end of his career.

“Never thought that I would be dropped after being the Man of the Match in 2 games out of the 8-9 I played after the Champions Trophy 2017. I got injured and I was told to prepare for the Sri Lanka series. Then suddenly, the Yo-Yo test came into the picture. It was a u-turn in my selection. Suddenly I had to go back and prepare for the Yo-Yo test at the age of 36. Even after I cleared the Yo-Yo test, I was told to play domestic cricket,” Yuvraj told in an interview to Aaj Tak in 2019.

“They actually thought that I wouldn’t be able to clear the test due to my age. And that it would be easy to decline me afterwards…yeah you can say it was an exercise in making excuses,” he added.

(With PTI Inputs)

Former India batter Robin Uthappa has claimed that bids for wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant will earn a paycheck of anywhere between Rs 25-28 crore in the upcoming IPL 2025 Mega Auction. Pant is amongst the high-profile Indian players in the auction, to be held on November 24 and 25 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, after not being retained by Delhi Capitals. With him in the auction, teams like Punjab Kings, Lucknow Super Giants, Chennai Super Kings and Royal Challengers Bengaluru are expected to bid heavily for him.

“I feel Rishabh Pant will go at around Rs 25-28 crores. He will definitely get the big bucks and become the highest-paid player in this auction. To afford Pant at such rates would be interesting to see, because I feel Punjab Kings may aim to get him, and so will RCB, for the role of leadership and as a wicketkeeper-batsman,” said Uthappa on JioCinema.

Similar sentiments were echoed by former India opener Aakash Chopra. “I feel Rishabh Pant is going to become the most expensive player in the history of the IPL. If there is a good equation between Pant and Punjab Kings, then they will go hard for him, or else RCB becomes a very likely place for Rishabh Pant. But I believe other teams will also bid for Pant as well. Indian players are going to be the prime property in this mega auction.”

Uthappa also thinks DC will go hard on buying back Shreyas Iyer, who was with the franchise from 2015 to 2021. “DC will go hard for Shreyas Iyer, and he should go within the bracket of 15-20 crores, and du Plessis above 10 crores. Indian youngsters like Nehal Wadhera and Ashutosh Sharma are a big part and the reason for the success of any team, and you want them to do really well. I think they will go for above 8 crores each.”

Chopra mentioned that young Australian opener Jake Fraser-McGurk could be taken in by Punjab Kings, after a great opening stint with DC in IPL 2024. “With Ricky Ponting being with Punjab Kings, I feel they will target Jake Fraser-McGurk, and they would be keen on having him.”

Amid an inconsistent start to Abhishek Sharma‘s T20I career, former India wicketkeeper-batter Robin Uthappa has urged the team management to give a free role to the young opener. Despite scoring a century in just his second T20I match, Abhishek has come under the scanner for his recent performances of late. In nine T20I innings, he has scored just 166 runs at an underwhelming average of 20.75. Amid concerns over his consistency, Uthappa has requested the team management to give Abhishek a Virender Sehwag-like license from early 2000s where he was told to express himself.

“I won’t look for too much consistency with someone like him. I would like to leave him as free as possible, like a Virender Sehwag perhaps in the early 2000s, where people were like ‘just go and enjoy yourself’,” Uthappa told Jio Cinema.

Uthappa insisted he isn’t too worried about Abhishek’s consistency as the team has set a role for him where he has been asked to attack the bowlers from the get go.

“Because if it comes, it’s a match-winning hundred or 80, if he gets a quick start, he is still serving the purpose towards the team. So the role is defined. I wouldn’t worry too much about consistency when it comes to Abhishek,” he added.

Abhishek caught the attention of the selectors after enjoying a breakthrough season in the Indian Premier League (IPL) earlier this year.

He scored 484 runs in 16 matches at an average of 32.26, helping SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH) reach the final, where they were beaten by the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR).

Meanwhile, Sanju Samson slammed a second successive T20I century to set up a 61-run win for India in the first of four matches against South Africa at Kingsmead in Durban on Friday.

Opening batter Samson hit 10 sixes and seven fours in a spectacular innings of 107 off 50 balls in an Indian total of 202-8.

It proved more than enough. Leg-spinners Varun Chakravarthy and Ravi Bishnoi bowled in tandem and took three wickets apiece as South Africa crumbled to 141 all out.

(With AFP Inputs)

Former India cricketer Robin Uthappa has reacted to the criticism he has received for condemning Chennai Super Kings’ move of letting New Zealand’s Rachin Ravindra practice at their academy ahead of the side’s recently concluded Test series in India. Ravindra emerged as the highest scorer for New Zealand in the Test series as the visitors registered a historic 3-0 whitewash over India. Ravindra was part of the CSK squad in IPL 2024 and the franchise allowed him to practice at their academy in order to get acclimatised to the Indian conditions. Uthappa was highly critical of CSK’s decision and said that when the country’s interest in at stake, a line should be drawn by the teams.

“Rachin Ravindra came here and practised at the CSK Academy. CSK is a beautiful franchise that will always look after its franchise players but a line has to be drawn where the interest of the country comes ahead of your franchise players, especially when he is a foreign player and comes and plays against our country,” Uthappa said on his YouTube channel.

“I am not surprised that CSK always go over and above for their players but somewhere in that kindness, maybe I am not saying the right thing, I absolutely love CSK, but when it comes to the country, there should be a line somewhere where we do not cross that line,” he added.

But there are some who didn’t agree with Uthappa.

“I am glad we can have an exchange of ideas even while disagreeing. Do you guys want to discuss this further over a Live session? Let me know in the comments.”

Yesterday, I posted a video where I shared my thoughts about Rachin Ravindra training at the Super Kings Academy ahead of the Tests in India. A lot of you seemed to disagree, which is absolutely fine!

I am glad we can have an exchange of ideas even while disagreeing. Do you… pic.twitter.com/QxWiMhVGxb

— Robbie Uthappa (@robbieuthappa) November 7, 2024

Many of the fans didn’t agree with the opinion of Uthappa, while other criticised him for his stance. Reacting to the comments, the ex-India star said, “Yesterday, I posted a video where I shared my thoughts about Rachin Ravindra training at the Super Kings Academy ahead of the Tests in India. A lot of you seemed to disagree, which is absolutely fine!

Former Indian cricket team batter Robin Uthappa criticised Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise Chennai Super Kings for allowing New Zealand star Rachin Ravindra to practice at their academy ahead of the Test series against India. Ravindra emerged as the highest run-scorer for New Zealand as the visitors completed a 3-0 whitewash in the series. Ravindra was part of the CSK squad in IPL 2024 and the franchise allowed him to practice at their academy in order to get acclimatised to the Indian conditions. Uthappa was highly critical of CSK’s decision and said that when the country’s interest in at stake, a line should be drawn by the teams.

“Rachin Ravindra came here and practised at the CSK Academy. CSK is a beautiful franchise that will always look after its franchise players but a line has to be drawn where the interest of the country comes ahead of your franchise players, especially when he is a foreign player and comes and plays against our country,” Uthappa said on his YouTube channel.

“I am not surprised that CSK always go over and above for their players but somewhere in that kindness, maybe I am not saying the right thing, I absolutely love CSK, but when it comes to the country, there should be a line somewhere where we do not cross that line,” he added.

Rachin Ravindra described his team’s 3-0 Test series victory over India as something special that is difficult to fully quantify. New Zealand secured a historic Test series victory in India with a dramatic 25-run win at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.

Left-arm spinner Ajaz Patel took 6-57 as India were bowled out for 121 in a chase of 147, as New Zealand also became the first visiting side to complete a landmark clean sweep in a three-Test series against India.

“It was unbelievable. On the field, it was a different feeling. I think it’s nothing like I’ve quite experienced before. Just seeing everyone’s elation, running towards each other. Ajaz’s sixth wicket, and being in Mumbai and seeing all the boys together in a huddle jumping around. It’s hard to quite quantify, but it’s pretty special,” said Ravindra on SEN Radio.

(With IANS inputs)

Former England all-rounder Ravi Bopara broke the internet as he did the unthinkable by hitting 6 consecutive sixes in an over. Taking on Robin Uthappa‘s India in the Hong Kong Sixes tournament, Bopara went hammer and tongs against none other than the opponent team’s skipper. Uthappa went on to concede a whopping 37 runs in an over, conceding 6 sixes and a wide in the 6 legal deliveries that he bowled. In the process, Bopara went on to complete his half-century in just 14 balls.

Bopara hit sixes to Uthappa on the first 5 deliveries of the over before the Indian delivered a wide on the 6th. On the 7th delivery of the over, Bopara hit another maximum to fetch a total of 37 runs from the over.

The next time Bopara faced a delivery, it was from Shahbaz Nadeem. Facing the first delivery from the bowler, the former England star hit another six, making it 7 consecutive maximums.

Bopara, who was also captaining the England side, retired after scoring 53 runs off just 14 balls with the help of eight sixes in his innings. Samit Patel gave Bopara excellent company in the middle, scoring 51 runs off just 18 balls with the help of four fours and five sixes in his innings.

The skipper of England, Ravi Bopara is raining sixes in Hong Kong!#HongKong #AsiasWorldCity #Cricket #ItsRainingSixes pic.twitter.com/mDckwXkeEP

— Hong Kong Sixes (@HongKongSixes) November 2, 2024

As a result of Bopara and Patel’s pyrotechniques, England put a total of 120/1 on the board in 6 overs. Despite fine cameos from the likes of Bharat Chipli (21 off 7), Shreevats Goswami (27 off 10) and Kedar Jadhav (48 not out for 15), India couldn’t overhaul England’s total. India only managed to reach a score of 105/6 in 6 overs, losing the match by 15 runs.

India are yet to win a single contest in the tournament, losing to Pakistan, UAE, and England already.