Uthappa says no to 'keeping

Opener skeptical about neutral-venue system

With over 700 runs, Robin Uthappa was Karnataka’s batting mainstay in last edition’s Ranji Trophy. He was also a subject of much consternation for the unusual arrangement, where he and CM Gautam shared wicketkeeping duties, he was responsible for.

In a bid to bolster his Test chances in the aftermath of MS Dhoni’s retirement from the longer format, Uthappa expressed his desire to keep wickets and the authorities acceded to his request whereby the opener and Gautam donned the big gloves by turns. The system, however, wasn’t received well both outside and within the team’s set-up and Uthappa has been man enough to accept that and has decided to concentrate just on his batting this season.

“Last season was a learning for me,” the Kodava said during a training session here on Thursday. “I understood a little more about team chemistry. The chemistry works with CM keeping. And I respect that. Last year, we shared the duties but this year CM (alone) will keep. And I think he should because it works well for the team. I don't want to disturb that. For me it was a learning and I've accepted that learning and grown with that. If the team ever requires me to keep, I'd love to wear the gloves but until then, CM will keep,” he reasoned.

Uthappa was also not rigid about his batting position in days’ cricket. “I'm going to bat wherever the team needs me to bat. Definitely in one-day and T20, I'll open but in four-day cricket, they need a little more stability at number three because that's one position which no one's kind of secured. But I've been able to do that last year. That's the role that's been assigned to me and I'm looking forward to make the most of it.”

The 30-year-old sounded a bit skeptical about the neutral venue system that Ranji will be played this season.

“No, I'm not,” he said when asked if he was a fan of playing in neutral venues. “Because it just takes away the advantage. It's not something that's natural in the scheme of things. You play Test cricket, you play home and away. There are always home advantages and away disadvantages. I don't know if this will last. I don't know if this is the right way to go.

“But when we were playing home and away, some teams were playing on such bad pitches that we were forced to take this option. Hopefully it's not something that'll last too long because interest in Ranji Trophy cricket has grown exponentially in the last few years and you want that.

“It's very healthy for domestic cricket. Every sport needs that. It's after a very long time that people are actually coming and watching domestic cricket.

“It was very heartening. I've been playing domestic cricket for 13 years and in the last 3-4 years crowds are actually turning up to watch Ranji Trophy games which is very heartening. To not see that happen would be a little bit of a lull,” he offered.