Kerala Cricket Association in talks with Robin Uthappa; may rope him for FC season

What’s the story?

Robin Uthappa may move to the Kerala Ranji team next season as the Kerala Cricket Association has initiated preliminary talks with the Karnataka batsman in order to rope him in for the state’s side.

Uthappa, as it has emerged in media reports, was unhappy with the state of affairs at the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) after being dropped midway through the last Ranji season.

Cashing in on the opportunity, KCA have approached the 31-year-old, who has been reported to have responded in the affirmative. “The KCA has opened talks with the Robin Uthappa. Both parties are interested. But we have to discuss the terms of the contract. If his terms are acceptable to us, Robin will play for Kerala this season,” an official privy to the discussions told Sportstar.

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Uthappa has 8793 first-class runs from 130 matches at an average of 41.28 but has not been able to break into the Indian Test team, after having made his international debut against England in an ODI in 2006.

However, the Karnataka-born has made his intentions clear of playing Test cricket for India time and again even as his consistent IPL performances fail to secure him a place in the national limited-overs side.

Details

This isn’t the first case in recent times of a Karnataka batsman leaving the state’s team for foreign pastures. Post their victorious 2013-14 season, Ganesh Sathish, the top-order batsman who had also scored a century in the Ranji final that season moved to Vidarbha in the next season.

The reason for that move, which is also speculated to be the reason behind Uthappa’s slated transfer, was the KSCA’s approach towards the senior members of the side. With Karun Nair, KL Rahul and the likes emerging from the second-string of cricketers, there has been a greater emphasis on the upcoming crop of cricketers.

Uthappa is the second highest run scorer for the Kolkata Knight Riders this season

The fact that Uthappa played only six first-class games for Karnataka this season, and despite scoring 328 runs – that included a hundred against Assam – was not picked for the last two league games as well as the knockouts, should have played on the wicket-keeper batsman’s mind before getting into the discussions.

Kerala, on the other hand, fielded as many as three outstation cricketers last season – Bhavin Thakur, Jalaj Saxena, and Iqbal Abdulla – but couldn’t take their campaign past the group stages. Saxena is the only player to have been retained for the next season as Kerala have already announced their 24-man probable squad for the Ranji Trophy.

They had also roped in Dav Whatmore – who was the coach of the victorious Sri Lanka team during the 1996 World Cup – as the head coach for the Ranji season.

Author’s Take

The moves that are being made by fringe cricketers to other states in order to further their chances of selection for the national side, as well as for the pure love of getting out there on the field instead of sitting on the bench, demand respect.

A 31-year-old Uthappa, who is yet to make a Test debut, aspires to play in the whites for India, and any move that could further his chances of doing so should be welcomed not just by his fans but also by his home state.

His consistent performances in the IPL – he has been the second highest run-getter for the Kolkata Knight Riders this season – have often raised the question of whether he should be there in the Indian T20I side.

Two good seasons with Kerala might just raise similar questions with respect to the national Test team as well.