Uthappa revealed the details of his conversation with MS Dhoni and said that he was traded to CSK as a solid force entrusted to help the team.
Former Indian batsman, Robin Uthappa reveals good memories back in 2007 when he was a vital part of team India and how India won the 2007 T20 WC under the captaincy of MS Dhoni.
Both the sensational batsmen are set to play together once again from CSK in IPL 2021 after Uthappa was traded to CSK from RR.
Looking at the good relationship between them, it is expected that Dhoni himself had initiated the talk for the inclusion of veteran opening batsman to CSK.
However, Uthappa vanished such an idea by confirming that Dhoni called him personally to clear that his inclusion in the team was based on the decision of team management and head coach.
Revealing the details of his conversation with Dhoni, Uthappa cleared that he was traded to CSK as an entrusted force who can help the team in crucial situations and not by any intervention by the CSK skipper.
“He, in fact, called me. He said, ‘I want you to know that I didn’t make the decision about you coming in here. It was actually the decision of the leadership group, which involved the coaches and the CEO’,”
Uthappa told ESPNcricinfo.
“He also said – and that’s what I love about him – ‘I didn’t want anyone to think that I was the one picking you. I wanted you to get into the team with your own ability and with your own skill. And when it came to me, I said, please ask everybody else in making the decision about you. Because anyone might feel ‘because MS is there, Robin got here’,”
he added.
Robin Uthappa praises his partner
Moreover, Uthappa hails MS Dhoni for his trust and dedication as it means a lot to the players when the skipper backs them up. It boosts up the confidence and helps in improvisation in a tournament as big as IPL.
“It is amazing, right, when there is that level of honesty. I truly appreciate that. For me, I know that I have gotten there by my own skill, by my own credibility. That is what I love about MS. You want to play for a leader like that, who gives you that confidence that, ‘Hey, you have come in here by your own credibility. I’ve done nothing,” Robin Uthappa said.