"Wanted to leave KKR after IPL 2014": Robin Uthappa makes a sensational revelation
The onset of league cricket revolutionised the sport significantly. The most lucrative aspect of this rise was the increased opportunity for players to earn big in the game. The Indian Premier League, the biggest T20 league in the world, has seen a player fetch as much as INR 27 crore in a bid. Clearly, the monetary aspect plays one of the most crucial roles in a player’s move. While such elements of the game are often brushed under the rug, Robin Uthappa recently made a bold revelation. After a successful stint with Kolkata Knight Riders in IPL 2014, the former Indian batsman wanted to leave the franchise to explore other opportunities.
Robin Uthappa explains why he thought of leaving KKR after their 2014 IPL victory. 🏏
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Robin Uthappa, the former opener for Kolkata Knight Riders, has revealed that he was prepared to part ways with the franchise immediately after the conclusion of IPL 2014. Uthappa played an elemental role in guiding KKR to the IPL 2014 title victory, the team's second crown in the tournament. Now, Uthappa has revealed that despite finishing as the tournament’s top scorer and securing the Orange Cap, he wanted to re-enter the auction to capitalise on his soaring market value.
After Pune Warriors India was terminated from the league, KKR picked up Uthappa for ₹5 crore in the 2014 auction, a move that played in their favor. In the IPL 2014 season, the KKR opener produced his finest IPL season, amassing 660 runs at an average of 44.00 while opening alongside skipper Gautam Gambhir. His consistency and explosive starts played a pivotal role in KKR’s title triumph.
“After Pune Warriors India, I went to KKR for Rs 5 crore. After my big year (with the bat), we won the IPL (2014) and I got the Orange Cap, I wanted to be released. I wanted to go back in the auction. I wanted to maximize the opportunity to earn more. To be honest, how much longer are you gonna play? Till 35, 36. And I was already 29 by then. So, I wanted to maximize my earnings,” Uthappa admitted.
“I went and had a conversation with the leadership group at KKR. They denied and said we can’t let you go. We want you to play for us. We want you to play for us for a long time. And then I had a conversation with them and there was no way I could’ve earned more than Rs 5 crore based on the contract at that point. So I let it go. I just wanted to try and it was worth having a conversation,” he added.
Although Uthappa stayed with the franchise until 2019, he later moved to Rajasthan Royals for ₹3 crore. Following a short stint with RR, Uthappa eventually spent two seasons with Chennai Super Kings, where he made vital contributions during the latter stages of their IPL 2021 campaign. However, his performances never quite reached the heights of his remarkable 2014 run with KKR. Over a 15-year IPL career, Uthappa represented six different franchises.
