Published: May 10, 2017, 10:04 AM (IST)
Edited: May 10, 2017, 10:18 AM (IST)
One of the most devastating players in domestic circuit, Robin Uthappa is currently contemplating a change of team. Uthappa, who plays for Karnataka, could very well be shifting his base to Kerala for Ranji Trophy 2017-18 season. Uthappa has been with the Karnataka side since 2002-03 season: winning 2 titles in 2013-14 and 2014-15. Under his leadership in 2009-10, Karnataka reached the finals, only to be handed a loss by Mumbai. Uthappa was also the team’s top-scorer with the bat in the 2014-15 season.Uthappa was not too happy with the internal handling of the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) last season. Knowing Uthappa’s discontent, Kerala Cricket Association (KCA) did have a talk with Uthappa for the upcoming season. “The KCA has opened talks with Robin Uthappa. Both parties are interested. But we have to discuss the terms of contract. If his terms are acceptable to us, Robin will play for Kerala this season,” said a KCA official, as reported by sportstarlive.com. IPL 2017: Gambhir says too many dot balls hurt KKR vs KXIP
Playing for Karnataka, Uthappa has scored 8,793 runs in First-Class cricket with 21 centuries and 48 half-centuries beside his name at an average of 41.28.
KCA, earlier in the month, had announced the appointment of former Sri Lanka coach Dav Whatmore as their Ranji Trophy coach. Whatmore led Sri Lanka to a World Cup win in 1996, and has coached other teams like Bangladesh, Pakistan and Zimbabwe since then. Whatmore was also the coach of Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the IPL from 2009-2012.
Uthappa and the KCA will again have a second round of discussion after the former finishes with the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2017.
