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IPL 2018: Kolkata Knight Riders wait on Robin Uthappa to break barrier vs CSK
Kolkata Knight Riders’ attacking batsman Robin Uthappa has got many starts but is yet to score his first half-century. KKR aim to rein in table-toppers Chennai Super Kings in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2018 on Thursday
If Robin Uthappa gets a start, it usually looks like a half-century is round the corner. Problem is: he hasn’t yet turned that corner in IPL 2018. Uthappa’s highest has been 48 against Rajasthan Royals but it looked like he would better that against Royal Challengers Bangalore on Sunday and Delhi Daredevils and Kings XI Punjab here. But Uthappa fell for 36, 35 and 34 respectively.
After his 36-ball effort in Jaipur last month, Uthappa said: “I had an off-colour domestic season but I never felt I was not hitting the ball well, it was just about the runs. I am happy to be continuing in the same vein…I hope to get better…”
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It hasn’t yet for the 32-year-old who was retained for Rs 6.4 crore by KKR. He has been with the franchise since 2014 and is the vice-captain this term. Uthappa has a good strike rate of 145.25 but at 199 runs after eight games, he is 20th on the run-getters’ list. Three of his teammates -- Chris Lynn, Dinesh Karthik and Andre Russell -- are ahead as are Sanju Samson, Surya Kumar Yadav, Mandeep Singh, Rishabh Pant, Ambati Rayudu, MS Dhoni, KL Rahul and Virat Kohli.
“That makes me worried because it means he (Uthappa) is due. I would have rather that he was on a big streak. If we can get him early or another 30, we would be delighted because he is an outstanding and a very aggressive player,” said Chennai Super Kings’ coach Stephen Fleming.
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With 370 runs at an average of 46.25 and a strike rate of 156.11, Rayudu of Chennai Super Kings is the holder of the Orange Cap.
Like Uthappa, Rayudu is 32 and like him again, seems to have made peace with the fact that he is unlikely to play regularly for India. Like Uthappa again, he has opened the innings and come at No. 4.
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“He’s (Rayudu) been massive. We did pick him keeping in mind that there would be a little bit of shuffling (in his batting position). And he has done that before (for Mumbai Indians)…The way he plays interests me a lot and the way he has performed this year has been fantastic. His partnership with Dhoni the other night (against Delhi Daredevils) showed how flexible he is and how calm he is at the moment,’ said Fleming.
With Nitish Rana doubtful due to a lower back spasm, a lot could ride on Uthappa if the colour purple has to shine the brightest here on Thursday night.
