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'I felt really bad that day as players not selected were better than me': Uthappa on switch from hockey to cricket
Despite the skill and talent, Robin Uthappa's initial days in the sport were not easy and the star batter even contemplated to switch to hockey.
Ever since bursting onto the scene, Robin Uthappa has always been branded as an attacking batter. The Chennai Super Kings batter, who has represented India in both the limited overs cricket, was also part of MS Dhoni's young brigade, which won the T20 World Cup in it's inaugural edition. However, despite the skill and talent, Uthappa's initial days in the sport were not easy and the star batter even contemplated to switch to hockey.
Yes, you read that right! Uthappa belonged to family renowned for their accolades in hockey, which also made it easier for the now cricketer to break into Karnataka's hockey team. Sharing the experience of shifting from hockey to cricket, Uthappa in an interaction with Sharechat's online show CricChat noted: "My father was an internationally renowned hockey umpire who also represented Karnataka. Once, when I went for the U16 sub-junior selection, I realized the path is going to be very smooth because everyone loved my father. In fact, during the selection day, there were very talented people who had come there, however they did not get selected.
"I felt really bad that day that these players were not selected even though they were better than me. I used to play as a full-back and I was selected as a stand-by, but I felt that these players were so talented, however, they did not get selected. That's when I realised my journey will be easy."
However, determined to do something on his own, Uthappa gave up the easy road and instead started slogging to excel in the 22 yards. "I wanted to do something on my own. I loved and enjoyed hockey as it was a game of courage and perseverance but I thought the route would be an easy one and even if I succeed people would believe that has happened because of my father.
"So I went back to cricket, expecting to become successful through my hard work since my father had no connection with cricket."
Recalling his first cricketing memory, the CSK batter said: "There are quite a few reasons for the choice made. One of them was when I was two or three years old and I was playing cricket with my mom, she was throwing the ball and I was hitting it with a broken plastic bat. That was my first consciousness of the game that brought me alive as a person."
