I wouldn't agree that it is a second string Indian side: Robin Uthappa

I wouldn’t agree that it is a second string Indian side: Robin Uthappa: Robin Uthappa one of the key members of the current Indian side touring Zimbabwe has said that it is not fair to say that it is a second string Indian side. On Friday (July 17), he top scored for India with an unbeaten 35-ball 39 as Zimbabwe were beaten by 54 runs in the first of two Twenty20 Internationals.

Uthappa was quoted by IBN Live saying, “I missed out in that first game (when he was run out for a duck). The second one (13) could have gone either way. The third game (31) I should have consolidated but one error cost me,”

“But I’m feeling good since I’ve come here. I was glad I was able to bat through for the team today and set up that good total (178 for 5). It was quite a challenging wicket to bat on, so I’m pretty happy with the way I performed today.”

India have been looking for a wicket-keeper batsman as back up for Mahendra Singh Dhoni and take up the job in the future in limited-overs cricket. “Definitely there’s room for improvement,” he admitted. “As I keep keeping in matches I think I keep getting better and better. There’s a little room for improvement, and I’m working on that.”

India made a rollicking start in the first T20 with Vijay bludgeoning 34 runs off 19 balls before slowing the pace down towards the end, but Uthappa felt the score was a fairly considerable one considering the pitch. “The wicket was again very slow. Not like all T20 wickets that you play on all around the world,” said Uthappa. “This was quite different. It was slow and low, hard to score runs and hard to score boundaries. You had to depend on the twos and make sure you back yourself.

“And you also know that it’s not easy for the new batsman to come in and play shots, you’ve got to give yourself time. So it was important for me to hold one end up for the side. I realised that once Manish (Pandey) got out, so either one of us that batted through we needed one batsman to bat through. I was very happy to do that for the team.”

Uthappa also stressed that it is not a second string Indian side. “I wouldn’t agree with you on that. Most of us in this side, and I think we have a pool of 25 players, all of us deserve to play for the country, it’s just that you cannot carry more than 15 in a side.

“So, unfortunately, the rest of us kind of miss out. I wouldn’t say we’re less talented, or we can’t do as well in international cricket. I just think that the guys who are in there have done well for themselves when they got the opportunity. It’s hard to leave those players out and play us.