Veteran India wicketkeeper-batsman Robin Uthappa will be plying his trade for the Chennai Super Kings in the upcoming edition of the Indian Premier League.
The three-time champions roped in Uthappa from the Rajasthan Royals in an all-cash deal ahead of the IPL 2021 auction last month in Chennai.
The 35-year-old is now looking forward to playing under the leadership of MS Dhoni. Uthappa recently revealed the details of his special conversation with the skipper after joining the Yellow Army.
Speaking on ESPNcricinfo, Uthappa said, “Dhoni called me. He said, ‘I want you to know that I didn’t make the decision about you coming in here. It was actually the decision of the leadership group, which involved the coaches and the CEO’.”
“Dhoni also said ‘I didn’t want anyone to think that I was the one picking you. I wanted you to get into the team with your own ability and with your own skills. And when it came to me, I said, please ask everybody else in making the decision about you’,” the Karnataka-born player added.
Uthappa had played under Dhoni’s captaincy during the inaugural edition of the T20 World Cup in 2007.
He was one of the best performers for Kerala in the 2020-21 Vijay Hazare Trophy, helping his state team to qualify for the quarter-finals in the domestic tournament.