The 24-year-old from Coorg thus went a long way towards compensating for a less than impressive IPL II campaign, though he will have to reconcile himself to missing the World Twenty20 for the second time in three years.
The national selectors felt Uthappa hadn’t done enough to merit a place even in the 30-man long-list of probables for the World Twenty20 starting in the Caribbean in a week’s time. Now, even if they so desire, they can’t fly out the right-hander in the event of an injury to a member of the 15-man squad, because the rules don’t allow for a man from outside the list of probables to be drafted in as a replacement.
Words of encouragement and support for Uthappa came from Ray Jennings, the Royal Challengers coach who is an acknowledged task master. “I am very surprised that they have left Robin out,” Jennings said on Friday.
“He’s a really exciting, damaging type of cricketer. As a second wicket-keeper too, he has kept really well for us. Of course, he has batted well too. Every time that he has got in, he has got an almost 200 percent strike rate. When he walks in, the presence that he creates… Looking at the Indian side, his presence is going to be missed. To me, he would definitely be missed by India in the World T20.”
The coach was delighted, though, that hard-working medium-pacer R Vinay Kumar had made the cut. “Vinay is an interesting cricketer,” Jennings remarked. “I think he is going to develop with more experience that he gets. He really works hard, he was the hardest working guy here today and I am pleased for him because guys like that deserve what they get. I am sure he is going to do well.”
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