I intend to play more ‘correct’ cricket: Uthappa
Kolkata Knight Riders batsman reflects on his new approach
Robin Uthappa has always been good to watch. The way he has brutalised bowling attacks in the past has earned him a reputation of a hard-hitting batsman. The ‘walking assassin’ as he is called for his trademark shot, where he charges down the track, has became a potent weapon in his batting armoury. Over the years, Uthappa has matured, realised his strengths and weakness and now claims to have ‘cleaned up’ his cricket for the better.
On Saturday night in front of a packed Dubai International Stadium, it wasn’t a trademark Robin Uthappa innings. There wasn’t that ‘walk’ down the pitch to the bowlers to hit them for a six over their heads nor was there mindless aggression. It was a calm, sedate and a mature Uthappa on display who got to his first half-century of this year’s Pepsi IPL.
In this chat with IPLT20.com, Robin Uthappa talks about how he has given his batting a good thought, his batting camaraderie with Manish Pandey and about putting the reverse sweep to good effect.
Excerpts from his chat:
Disappointing to end up on the losing side, but what are the positives that the team would take from the game?
It was a good performance, I think we did really well throughout the game and it was just that 18th over when JP Duminy took off that changed the course of the game. There are a lot of positives to take from this game. The energy within the team was really good, which is very important in a tournament like this. The way Manish Pandey batted and Shakib Al Hasan finished and the manner in which Vinay bowled initially, are the positives we can take.
A half-century after a quiet first game should keep you going for the rest of the tournament.
I am glad that I have been able to continue my good form from the domestic season, which has really helped. I have been in good form throughout the season and I am happy I can contribute to the team in a meaningful way. It was good to be in touch and be able to stitch up a partnership with Manish Pandey and Shakib Al Hasan to get the team to a good total.
You hit your first boundary in the 12th over of the match. Was it a conscious effort to start off slow and then accelerate?
I know as long as I am in the middle, the runs will keep coming, which is important for the team. We were two down in less than three and a half overs, so it was important to make sure that the team got a foundation to build on. It was important for me to hold one end up when Manish was going great guns. He was batting in a flow, so it was important that I complemented him. We have batted with each other in the past and understand each other well. It was a conscious effort to make sure that I held one end up for the team.
You used a lot of reverse sweeps in your innings; is it something that you have developed over a period of time?
I have always played the reverse sweep. I have just kept the options open. When the opportunity arises and when I see a gap, then I play it. I only play it if I believe it is going to be useful at that point of time.
We have seen you go beserk over bowling attacks in the past. Have you curbed you aggression of late?
I have changed my technique and I have cleaned up my cricket in a big way, which has helped me play more correct cricket. I believe while playing correct, you can still score a lot of runs and score at a good pace. Today’s innings against Delhi Daredevils was a proof of that.
We do not see you charging down the pitch to bowlers often; will we get to see that a lot more in the near future?
Hopefully, yes. The wickets here are a little slow and you want the ball to come on to you to play those kind of shots. If the wickets allow me to play those shots, I definitely will.
On Saturday night in front of a packed Dubai International Stadium, it wasn’t a trademark Robin Uthappa innings. There wasn’t that ‘walk’ down the pitch to the bowlers to hit them for a six over their heads nor was there mindless aggression. It was a calm, sedate and a mature Uthappa on display who got to his first half-century of this year’s Pepsi IPL.
In this chat with IPLT20.com, Robin Uthappa talks about how he has given his batting a good thought, his batting camaraderie with Manish Pandey and about putting the reverse sweep to good effect.
Excerpts from his chat:
Disappointing to end up on the losing side, but what are the positives that the team would take from the game?
It was a good performance, I think we did really well throughout the game and it was just that 18th over when JP Duminy took off that changed the course of the game. There are a lot of positives to take from this game. The energy within the team was really good, which is very important in a tournament like this. The way Manish Pandey batted and Shakib Al Hasan finished and the manner in which Vinay bowled initially, are the positives we can take.
A half-century after a quiet first game should keep you going for the rest of the tournament.
I am glad that I have been able to continue my good form from the domestic season, which has really helped. I have been in good form throughout the season and I am happy I can contribute to the team in a meaningful way. It was good to be in touch and be able to stitch up a partnership with Manish Pandey and Shakib Al Hasan to get the team to a good total.
You hit your first boundary in the 12th over of the match. Was it a conscious effort to start off slow and then accelerate?
I know as long as I am in the middle, the runs will keep coming, which is important for the team. We were two down in less than three and a half overs, so it was important to make sure that the team got a foundation to build on. It was important for me to hold one end up when Manish was going great guns. He was batting in a flow, so it was important that I complemented him. We have batted with each other in the past and understand each other well. It was a conscious effort to make sure that I held one end up for the team.
You used a lot of reverse sweeps in your innings; is it something that you have developed over a period of time?
I have always played the reverse sweep. I have just kept the options open. When the opportunity arises and when I see a gap, then I play it. I only play it if I believe it is going to be useful at that point of time.
We have seen you go beserk over bowling attacks in the past. Have you curbed you aggression of late?
I have changed my technique and I have cleaned up my cricket in a big way, which has helped me play more correct cricket. I believe while playing correct, you can still score a lot of runs and score at a good pace. Today’s innings against Delhi Daredevils was a proof of that.
We do not see you charging down the pitch to bowlers often; will we get to see that a lot more in the near future?
Hopefully, yes. The wickets here are a little slow and you want the ball to come on to you to play those kind of shots. If the wickets allow me to play those shots, I definitely will.
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