'I am all in' - Robin Uthappa ready to don the wicketkeeping gloves for India if needed

Team India hasn’t found a permanent replacement to MS Dhoni in the shorter formats when it comes to wicketkeeping. Though the veteran is yet to retire from international cricket, he hasn’t played any game since World Cup last year either. Rishabh Pant was given a lot of chances soon after the mega event. But he couldn’t impress and has gone down the pecking order with KL Rahul taking up the job.

Rahul has been at the peak of his form since January this year and has continued to improve his wicketkeeping as well. Virat Kohli has also confirmed in the press conference that they want to look at him more behind the stumps. But things can change very quickly with the T20 World Cup approaching, if not this year then next year, there will be talks of having a proper wicketkeeper in the side.

And Robin Uthappa has put his hand up to take up the role if needed. Rather he is ready to take up any role in the Indian team if he gets another opportunity to represent the country. Not long ago, Uthappa himself had said that he has a World Cup left in him and desires to play for India again.

He has done a decent job behind the stumps in his career and has affected a few dismissals at the international level as well apart from doing the job regularly in domestic cricket. He kept wickets while playing for the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) too in the IPL. Speaking to SportScreen, Robin Uthappa stated he is very much ready to don the wicketkeeping gloves if the team needs him to do it.

Robin Uthappa praises KL Rahul’s wicketkeeping skills

However, the Karnataka cricketer is also aware of the fact that KL Rahul is doing an amazing job at the moment. He praised the latter for improving his skills behind the stumps over the last few months and reckons Rahul has looked more natural wicketkeeper compared to the earlier days.

“Yeah for sure (if wicketkeeping is an option to play for India). There are exceptional guys who are donning the gloves at the moment. KL (Rahul) is doing a fantastic job. He seems to look like he’s become more natural with his wicketkeeping skills. He’s clearly doing some work behind the stumps which is why he seems so much better today with the gloves. DK (Dinesh Karthik) is someone who has done well for India in the T20 format,” he said.

Robin Uthappa also cleared that he has made himself completely available in any role for India. He also pointed out that he never batted more than three innings a certain position in the blue jersey and asserted that he is happy to take up any role according to the team’s needs.

“So yeah, there is a chance. Every time I played for the Indian team in whatever shape or form they need me. I have never batted at one position for more than three innings when I played for India. For me, when I am representing my country, I am all in. As a person, I am an all in or nothing kind of a person. Whatever the team needs me to do, I am happy and willing to do it,” the 34-year-old added.