Someone from MI told me that if I don't sign transfer papers, I won't get into XI: Robin Uthappa

The first edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) was played in 2008 and since then the tournament has earned itself the title of being the toughest franchise-based cricket league in the world. While only a few had the privilege of playing for one particular team, most players have represented more than one team. Former Indian cricketer Robin Uthappa is one among them.

Uthappa, who is currently representing the defending champions Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in IPL 2022, has played for as many as six IPL franchises. The right-handed batter played his first season for five-time champions Mumbai Indians (MI) in 2008. The wicketkeeper-batter shifted to Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in IPL 2009.

Recalling his first ever transfer, the 36-year old revealed that in 2009, he was forced to sign the transfer papers by “someone” from MI, whom he did not wish to name.

I was one of the first people to be transferred in IPL: Robin Uthappa

In a conversation with Ravichandran Ashwin on his Youtube channel, Uthappa revealed that he was one of the first cricketers to be transferred in IPL. The Karnataka cricketer also revealed that he was told that he will not make it to the playing XI if he doesn’t sign the transfer papers.

“So, I was along with Zaheer Khan and Manish Pandey. I was one of the first people to be transferred in the IPL. For me, it became extremely difficult because my loyalties were completely laid out with MI at that point. It happened a month before the IPL and I refused to sign the transfer papers,” Uthappa said in a conversation with Ashwin.

“I was going through something in my personal life and I was completely in depression during my first season with RCB. I didn’t play well even for one game that season. The only game in which I did well was when I was dropped and picked again. I played thinking that I really needed to do something in this match. Someone from MI, I won’t name him, had told me that if I didn’t sign the transfer papers, I’d not get to play in the XI for MI,” he added.

Talking about his numbers in IPL, Uthappa has played 196 matches in which he has scored 3686 runs at an average of 27.98. The right-handed batter has stroked 26 fifties in the tournament.