Last month when Robin Uthappa left Karnataka after spending 15 years with the team, it was expected that the wicketkeeper batsman will land in Kerala camp as a professional but with Arun Karthik already signing with the team as the second professional, the hopes of Uthappa coming in this side looks dead and bleak now. There were reports the state association was in talks with Punjab opener Jiwanjot Singh as well but he didn’t accept the offer.
(Read Here: Robin Uthappa Yet To Decide Upon Kerala Signing)
In the latest news, Uthappa has declined the offer of Kerala Cricket Association (KCA) to lead the team in KSCA Trophy and Sachin Baby has been handed the charge to lead the team. The selectors first looked towards their new signee Arun Karthik for the job but commitments with his TNPL franchise led him to skip the tournament.
(Read Here: Kerala Rope In Arun Karthik As Profession Player)
The news of Uthappa declining the offer is a bigger one though as the domestic season is just a couple of months away and he is yet to decide upon his next move. Even before the end of the last season, there were hopes that Uthappa will leave the Karnataka camp due to dropping of a senior player like him at a crucial stage during the season.
Meanwhile, Dav Whatmore, the new coach of Kerala has already joined the team and will travel with the side for the KSCA Trophy. Kerala will miss out on the services of few key players such as Basil Thampi and Sanju Samson as both the players are part of India A squad for the tour to South Africa. The second string side will face South Africa A and Afghanistan A in the tri-series. After the completion of tri-series, other members of India A will travel to South Arica for two unofficial Test matches. Karun Nair, Shreyas Iyer, and Shardul Thakur are the only players who are part of both the teams.
(Read More: Robin Uthappa Bids Adieu To Karnataka After 15 Years)
(Read More: Dav Whatmore Takes Over As Coach Of Kerala Ranji Team)