Interesting Facts About Former India Stalwart

Happy birthday Robin Uthaba: Robin Uthappa is the name that always rings the bell in the minds of Indian fans, reminding them of a well-built player who was a vital cog in India’s victory in the T20 World Cup in 2007. The charismatic batsman to watch, Uthappa was all his best shots in his book. The Karnataka sensation has never held back from smashing the ball no matter the situation in the match. However, the moderation of his workout style proved to be his biggest weakness, which kept him away from the Indian team for extended periods of time.

Uthappa made an excellent appearance, scoring 86 unbeaten goals for England at Indore. He has been a veteran of the Indian Premier League and has been a part of various franchises in the cash-rich league. Uthappa announced his retirement from all forms of cricket earlier this year, pulling the curtains on to a two-decade professional career.

As Uthappa celebrates his 37th birthday today, let’s take a look at some interesting facts from his long career:

1. Chill from a sports background
   The Uthaba family was involved in the sport even before Robin started playing for India. His father, Venu Uthappa, was a former hockey referee and former president of Karnataka Hockey Association.
2. Ranji debuted at 17
   Uthappa made his debut in Karnataka’s Ranji Trophy in 2002, when he was just 17 years old. Uthappa hit 3rd against Haryana and got a fast 40. Uthappa had made his A-list debut with Karnataka a few days before his Ranji debut, scoring 61 points against Andhra Pradesh.
3. Vital gear for India U19
   Uthappa was an important part of India’s U19 cricket roster, which participated in the 2004 U19 Cricket World Cup. Along with captain Ampati Raidu, Suresh Raina, Shekhar Dhawan, and Dinesh Karthik, Uthappa achieved an impressive tournament, but was unable to reach the Finals.
4. Running dream in opening T20 World Cup
   Uthappa made his T20I debut against Scotland in 2007 during the ICC T20 World Championships in South Africa. In India’s massive clash against Pakistan in the group stage, Uthaba went up and smashed his first T20I 50. In the same match, he was a bowler from the Indian contingent who stumps into the ball after the match resulted in a tie. He made good starts for India, opening with Gautam Gambhir. His efforts helped India lift the title at Kingsmead and become the inaugural World Cup champion.
5. Winner of IPL Orange Cap
   Although Uthappa failed to cement his place in the Indian squad, he was a mainstay for the Kolkata Knight Riders in the IPL. In 2014, he had an impressive season garnering 660 throws and earning an Orange hat. His glowing hit led Kolkata to the title that same year.

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