Wicketkeeper-batsman Robin Uthappa is playing for Kerala in domestic cricket. There were speculations that he will head the team.
After the Confrontation with Karnataka state board, he joined Saurashtra and played for the 2017-2018 season. The Kerala Cricket Association (KCA) has signed up him to play for the 2019-20 season. Since then there were talks that he will lead the team.
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Talks get more, when Uthappa led Kerala in the first match against Himachal Pradesh in the Captain K Thimmappiah Memorial Cricket Tournament in Bengaluru last month. The captain of Kerala, Sachin Baby, got injured which has given the chance to Karnataka born player.
At last on Tuesday, speculations were put to rest by KCA. it was announced that Uthappa will lead the state in one-dayer Vijaya Hazare which will begin next month. He will also lead the team in Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 proceeded by Vijaya Hazare. But KCA has not clear who will lead in Ranji Trophy.
“Uthappa is an India international and we will like to utilise his experience in the best possible way. We have communicated our decision to coach Dav Whatmore and he has expressed no reservation. We have faith in Robin’s leadership skills and that’s why we have decided to name him to captain for the shorter formats,” KCA secretary Sreejith V Nair said.
Will Robin Uthappa lead in Ranji Trophy?
As Sachin Baby had led the team so far in this format and the team has given a good performance. So KCA will decide whom to select as a leader.
“We will evaluate Robin’s captaincy once both Vijay Hazare Trophy and Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy tournaments end. Ranji Trophy is beginning only in December. So we still have time to take a decision on Kerala’s Ranji Trophy captain,” added Sreejith.
Robin Uthappa has played 46 ODIs and 13 T20Is for India and 136 First-class and 189 List A cricket. He was the highest scorer in 2014-15 Ranji season. He is also a star of the Indian Premier League (IPL) side Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR).
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Even though the performance of Kerala was satisfactory in the last two season, there were manifestations of dispute among the team. Under the leadership of Robin Uthappa, the state body will want the team to perform well.