Indian batsman Robin Uthappa who was teammates with Australian Steve Smith in the now-defunct Pune Warriors India is excited to share the dressing room once again with him at Rajasthan Royals. He was brought from KKR by RR in the December IPL auction for Rs 3 crores. 34-year-old Uthappa has been a consistent performer in the IPL for many seasons now and has scored 4411 runs in 177 appearances.
Rajasthan Royals had traded captain Ajinkya Rahane to Delhi capitals for this term and appointed Steve Smith as the leader, eyeing their second IPL title. The squad is training in the UAE after completing their mandatory quarantine.
Robin Uthappa. Photo: BCCI
Steve Smith’s game has transformed since 2013, excited to play together again, says Robin Uthappa
Uthappa played with Steve Smith back in 2013 for PWI and feels Smith has transformed his game since. He told he is looking ahead to interact with Smith and to learn from him during the time they play together. Steve Smith is touring England with Australia for a white ball series and will join the RR squad on the 17th of September.
“I have played with Steve [Smith] back in Pune Warriors India from 2011 to 13. But having seen the growth that he has made from that time, I am truly looking forward to interacting with him and learning from him in the time that we will be playing together this year,”Uthappa told India Today.
Steve Smith. Image Credit: BCCI/IPL
The IPL will be an escape for the people: Robin Uthappa
The Indian batsman feels the IPL will be an escape for people from the unprecedented times we are living in right now. He also said the Rajasthan Royals are hoping to make this year a special one and win the IPL.
“I think it is in this unpredictable times, and with no end in sight so to speak, that we are all craving for a semblance of normalcy, and this tournament can bring that back to our lives.”The IPL will be an escape for the people. Indians love cricket, and this will be a relief for them. In that sense, this will be a big big IPL,” he said.
Robin Uthappa. Credits: BCCI/IPL.
“As is any other team’s desire and intention, our desire as well is to go there and compete as well as we can, and hopefully win the tournament.So, we want to make it special, and I think winning it will make it extremely special.”
RR squad members including Steve Smith, Jofra Archer, Ben Stokes, Jos Buttler, and Tom Curran will travel to UAE on 17th September to join the squad. They are in England to play a bilateral series between Australia and England which will conclude on 16th September.
The IPL 2020 will begin from September 19 till November 10, a total 53-day campaign will see all the 8 teams play in UAE. The venue this time is UAE and matches will be played in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Sharjah.
