Chennai: Indian cricketer and Kerala’s Robin Uthappa will play for the Chennai Super Kings in the IPL this season. Uthappa joined CSK through the trading window after being dropped by the Rajasthan Royals ahead of this season’s tournament. Uthappa was acquired by Rajasthan for Rs 3 crore last year.
The 35-year-old Uthappa, who has played in all the IPL seasons, has previously played for Mumbai Indians, Royal Challengers Bangalore, Pune Warriors and Kolkata Knight Riders. Uthappa has so far scored 4607 runs in 189 matches at a strike rate of 129.99. That includes 24 half-centuries. Robin Uthappa, who won the Orange Cap with 660 runs in the 2014 season, was instrumental in Kolkata’s victory in their second IPL title.
But Uthappa has not been able to shine in the last two seasons. In 2019, Uthappa scored only 282 runs for Kolkata. Despite joining the Rajasthan jersey last season, the situation has not changed. He scored just 196 runs in 12 matches at a strike rate of 119.51. Following this, Rajasthan decided to release Robbie ahead of next season.
Chennai brought Uthappa to the team after ‘losing’ two openers. Shane Watson has announced his retirement and Murali Vijay has been released. However, Faf Duplessis, Ambati Rayudu, Rituraj Gaikwaj, N Jagadeesan and Sam Karan are the openers for Chennai.
‘I really enjoyed last season at the Royal House. I’m lucky to be a part of this franchise. I am now excited to join the Chennai Super Kings in IPL 2021 as part of my cricketing journey, ”said Robin Uthappa after the transfer. The transition between franchisees (trading window) has until February 4.
Meanwhile, Chennai, which has been branded as an ‘old men’ team ‘, has come under fire on social media, including Chennai fans, for criticizing the inclusion of 35-year-old Uthappa in the team. Some have joked that another ‘Kedar Jadhav’ has arrived in Chennai to replace the released Kedar Jadhav.
Others have commented that Uthappa will buy a ‘pension’ for Chennai this time. But it remains to be seen whether Uthappa, who beat Kerala by 91 runs off 54 balls in the Mushtaq Ali Trophy against Delhi, will be written off.
English Summary: Robin Uthappa traded to CSK
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