Robin Uthappa KKR IPL 2018 Captain
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Two-time IPL champions, Kolkata Knight Riders decided to let go their former skipper Gautam Gambhir and formed a team loaded with youngsters in the auctions.

Gambhir led KKR very successfully for seven years, but KKR wanted to form a new team. However, they ended up investing a lot in youth and uncapped talents, and there are very few members who can take up the mantle of captaincy for the 11th season of Indian Premier League.

When asked to Uthappa if he is willing to take up the captaincy, the star batsman and an occasional wicket-keeper said he would be honoured to lead the franchise if the team management wants him to do.

Uthappa was retained by the Kolkata Knight Riders in the auction using their Right to Match card for a whopping Rs 6.4 crores.

“Of course, I am. I’ll be honoured if the opportunity came along, but it’s for the think-tank to decide — whatever role they want me to take, I’ll give my 110 percent. Adding value to my team as a cricketer is crucial to my game,” Uthappa was quoted as saying by Sportstar during an interview.

Kolkata Knight Riders, Robin Uthappa, IPL Auction 2018, IPL 11, Bengaluru
Robin Uthappa would be crucial for KKR at the top for aiming another title. Photo Credit: IPL/BCCI.

Uthappa had earlier played for the Mumbai Indians, Royal Challengers Bangalore and the Pune Warriors India but for the last five years, he had settled in the Kolkata team and is eager to return ‘home’.

“The initial five or six years of the IPL, I moved around a lot, so for me to find one place I could call home was important. The people back in Kolkata are absolutely fantastic; they’ve treated me with so much love and care. Even the team management has stood by me right from the time I joined them,” said Uthappa.

Uthappa said the team management’s decision to spend on uncapped players would pay rich dividends and the youngsters would make a mark in the tournament.

“I think we’ve to understand the value the Indian domestic players bring into the franchise. It is only when you give them responsibilities that you find out whether they are going to flourish as athletes or learn how to handle the pressure. What the team has done is, it has given them a chance to expose themselves to some quality international cricket and see how the boys do,” he said.

“I think it’s great foresight. A lot of the domestic Indian batters must be gung-ho about playing in the first team, and that’s a great position to be in,” Uthappa added.

KKR bought Player of the Series from the U-19 World Cup, Shubman Gill for Rs 1.8 crores. Speaking about the sensational youngster, Uthappa said,

“(Shubman) Gill has got a very strong game, I think he’s a naturally aggressive player. And he looks very versatile at this point in time. Obviously, the variations and pace (in IPL) are going to be different — it’ll be five or 10 clicks faster. It’s about acclimatising to the conditions, but I feel these guys will do great because of the kind of exposure they’ve had at such a young age. The next few years are going to be strong years for KKR.”

Rahul Dravid, Pakistan U19, India U19, Shaheen Afridi, Khyber Agency,
Shubman Gill has a prolific tournament. Photo Credit: Getty Images.

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