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Former Indian cricketer Robin Uthappa has found himself in hot water after his recent explosive comments about Virat Kohli’s captaincy and its impact on certain players, including Yuvraj Singh and Ambati Rayudu. The 2007 T20 World Cup winner faced backlash on social media for blaming Kohli for Yuvraj and Rayudu’s ouster from the Indian cricket team.
In a recent interview with Lallantop, Robin Uthappa openly criticized Virat Kohli’s handling of legendary all-rounder Yuvraj Singh during the latter phase of his career. He also claimed that Kohli’s preferences influenced the controversial omission of Ambati Rayudu from India’s 2019 ODI World Cup squad. These comments led him to face severe backlash from Kohli’s fans.
Amid the criticism, Robin Uthappa took to YouTube to clarify his statements and address the uproar. He emphasized that his remarks were not personal attacks on Kohli, but observations on his leadership approach. He also insisted that everyone has their own opinion, so his too. The former Indian batsman stressed that he respects Kohli’s contributions to Indian cricket but has different views on his leadership styles, and that’s it.
Robin Uthappa said on his YouTube channel, “A lot of things are being said; many things are being misinterpreted. take it easy I am a human being; I allow myself to have my opinion, just like any of you. I’ve been hearing and getting a lot of hate over the past few days. I was in an interview and being there allows me to be honest and direct and share my opinion because I believe what my opinion is.”
Uthappa defended his comments on Virat Kohli’s leadership saying, “I feel Virat’s leadership style was maybe more exclusive than inclusive. You feel something else, don’t worry. That’s my opinion, and you’re entitled yours, and I respect yours, and you’ll respect mine. There’s nothing wrong with someone having their own opinion.”
Uthappa further emphasized that his views were about Kohli’s leadership style, not about him as a person or a player. He even praised the former Indian captain as one of the greatest ODI batsmen and a legend of the game while acknowledging his evolution as a person over the years.
The former Indian batsman has also expressed admiration for Kohli’s hunger and passion for cricket. He said that he loves Virat a lot as a person and a player, but he has his own opinion about his leadership style, and there is nothing wrong with that. Robin also believes that Kohli can still play Test cricket for 3 years.
Meanwhile, Robin Uthappa clarified his statement about Yuvraj Singh. He emphasized that legends like Yuvraj Singh deserved a proper send off as he was one of the greatest players Indian cricket has ever seen. Uthappa felt Yuvraj missed the send-off he deserved, and Virat Kohli, as India’s captain, could have made it easier but didn’t because he was out of form.
Uthappa explained, “I wasn’t talking about Yuvraj Singh’s comeback. I was talking about a legend like him who got a deserving send-off, and I think someone like them deserves to get the kind of send-off that Rohit or Virat deserve, regardless of the form they are in. I still feel that Yuvraj Singh deserved a dismissal, which he didn’t get, and Virat could have afforded it, is what I felt as a leader, and this is my opinion”.
In the end, Uthappa also shared his thoughts on Ambati Rayudu’s exclusion from the ODI World Cup 2019 squad. He expressed his sympathy for his friend Rayudu. The former Indian batsman has highlighted the emotional impact it had on Ambati Rayudu. He feels that Kohli could have handled the situation in a better way to avoid such a painful experience for Rayudu.