Robin Uthappa
Robin Uthappa. (Credits: BCCI)

Ahead of the twelfth edition of the Indian Premier League, Kolkata Knight Riders have received a huge boost with their batting mainstay Robin Uthappa recovering from an ankle surgery. Uthappa has been with Knight Riders since 2014 and has been one of their most important players since then. In his maiden season, he smashed 660 runs, helping the Knight Riders win their second title and has not looked back since then.

Uthappa is now one of the most important and experienced players in the Knight Riders’ squad and the team-management will be delighted with the latest news. The right-handed batsman, who made his comeback to action in the ongoing Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, said ‘he is in a good place’ at the moment. In his comeback game which was against Railways, Uthappa played a handy knock of 46.

Robin Uthappa In 'Good Place' Ahead Of IPL 2019
Robin Uthappa (Credits: BCCI)

Uthappa had an ankle surgery that had kept him out of action for four months.  He then spent almost a month at the Knight Riders Academy, getting back to the grind with the help of Abhishek Nayar, the head coach and mentor of the Academy.

“I am in a good place right now. Well honestly, it has been a learning curve for me – going through the injury, and then, the surgery,” Uthappa told the official website of the franchise.

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He further spoke on the ankle issue that was troubling him for the last 3-4 years.

It was impeding the flexibility and movement around my ankle, and I have had it for the last three or four years.

“Immediately after the surgery, the range of movements around my ankle was almost twice as much as (it was) before the surgery even happened. So I am really happy to get it out of the way. I am happy to be back to playing cricket,” he added.

Robin Uthappa In 'Good Place' Ahead Of IPL 2019
Robin Uthappa (Credits: BCCI)

Rayudu concluded by saying that he enjoyed his time at the academy before praising Nayar.

“Every day that I have spent at the KKR academy camp – I’ve enjoyed every bit of it. (Nayar’s approach) is definitely out of the box, and something that seems to be working for me very well,” concluded Uthappa.

Knight Riders, meanwhile, will open their campaign against Sunrisers Hyderabad at home on March 24. Uthappa, who had scored 351 runs last season, will be looking to hit the ground running this year.

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