New Delhi: Robin Uthappa announced retirement from all forms of international and Indian cricket. He may be seen playing some foreign T20 Leagues from now on. The cricketer shared a tweet to make the announcement and also penned a heartfelt letter. In the tweet, he wrote, “It has been my greatest honour to represent my country and my state, Karnataka. However, all good things must come to an end, and with a grateful heart, I have decided to retire from all forms of Indian cricket.”
It has been my greatest honour to represent my country and my state, Karnataka. However, all good things must come to an end, and with a grateful heart, I have decided to retire from all forms of Indian cricket.
Thank you all ❤️ pic.twitter.com/GvWrIx2NRs
— Robin Aiyuda Uthappa (@robbieuthappa) September 14, 2022
While he has played some brilliant innings for India and Chennai Super Kings, won the orange cap for Kolkata Knight Riders in 2014, and has been good behind the stumps, however, one of the most unforgettable moments in his career came back in 2007. He was part of the 2007 T20 World Cup-winning Indian team.
The epic bowl-out
While India was facing Pakistan in the T20 World Cup, and it is not Uthappa’s fifty that made him a hero. India, batting first did not start well after Gambhir got out without scoring. Soon Sehwag, Yuvraj Singh and Dinesh Karthik also departed and India stood 36/4. Robin Uthappa posted a partnership with captain MS Dhoni to save India. Before he got out, he scored 50 off 39 balls and then Dhoni led India to 141/9.
Pakistan had a similar start and they stood 47/4. It was Misbah-ul-Haq’s fifty that brought the match closer. With just a run needed on the last ball, Misbah got himself run out off Yuvraj’s throw to Sreesanth, who went to hit the stumps. The game was tied and there was no super over, rather the match went into a bowl-out.
Sehwag, part-time off-spinner, bowled the first ball and hit the stumps while Yasir Arafat missed. Harbhajan came in and bowled a straight delivery to hit the stumps while Umar Gul swung the ball just to miss. In the third round, Dhoni gave the ball to Robin Uthappa, a wicket-keeper batsman. Uthappa bowled a seam-up delivery and knocked the stumps, while Shahid Afridi missed. India won the match 3-0 and who can forget that iconic bow by Uthappa?
Uthappa has played 46 ODIs and 13 T20Is and has 1183 international runs, but people will remember him for that one ball that won India a crucial nail-biting encounter against arch-rivals Pakistan.
