The debate has once again intensified regarding the sudden retirement of two of the biggest names of cricket, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, from Test cricket. This time this issue has been raised by former Indian opener and T20 World Cup winning player Robin Uthappa. Who have raised questions on the time and manner of these two greats’ retirement from Test cricket.

Question raised again on test retirement

Earlier this year, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma had said goodbye to Test cricket. This decision came at a time when India had to face a disappointing performance in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia. Before this, the pressure was continuously increasing due to the defeat in the home series against New Zealand and then during the tour of Australia.

After the Australia tour, both the players were asked to play Ranji Trophy and they also participated in it. Despite this, during IPL, Rohit Sharma suddenly announced his retirement from Test cricket through Instagram story. After a few days, Virat Kohli also put an end to his Test career on social media. All this happened just before the England tour, which surprised the fans and cricket experts.

Uthappa’s statement, “Retirement did not feel natural”

Robin Uthappa, while speaking on his YouTube channel, said that he did not find the retirement of these two “completely natural”. He said, “I am not saying that this decision was taken forcefully, but the way and the time at which it happened, it did not seem like a natural exit to me. What is the real truth, only Virat and Rohit can tell in their own time.”

Uthappa also said that Rohit Sharma’s form was not good during the Australia tour, but he believed that Rohit would have taken a short break and worked on his fitness and would have definitely made a comeback.

Old hunger seen in ODI

After retirement from Test, now Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma are focusing only on ODI cricket. Recently both of them made a comeback in the Vijay Hazare Trophy and performed brilliantly. Uthappa said, “The same hunger is visible again in the eyes of both Virat and Rohit. It is great to see the passion they have even after such a big career.”

Eye on 2027 World Cup

Now the focus of both the giants is 2027 ODI World Cup. Questions are definitely being raised regarding their departure from Test cricket, but looking at the ODI form it is certain that Virat and Rohit are not finished yet. His experience and class can play a big role in Indian cricket in the coming years.

After the announcement of India’s T20 World Cup team, two names are being discussed the most – Shubhman Gill and Suryakumar Yadav. While T20 vice-captain Shubman Gill was dropped from the team, captain Suryakumar Yadav, who was struggling with poor batting form for a long time, was retained in the team. Now Robin Uthappa, a member of the 2007 T20 World Cup winning team, has given a big statement on this issue.

SKY’s poor form became the reason for Gill’s ouster?

Talking on his YouTube channel, Robin Uthappa said that in a big competition like the World Cup, the team can carry only one player at a time who is not in form. According to Uthappa, “In the World Cup, you can give a chance to only one player who is not scoring runs, not more than that.”

When asked whether Shubman Gill was dropped because Suryakumar Yadav was not scoring runs, Uthappa said without mincing words, “Yes, perhaps that is the reason.”

Suryakumar ‘out of form’ or ‘out of run’?

Uthappa explained the situation of Suryakumar Yadav in a slightly different way. He said that Surya is not out of form, but is not able to score runs. “It is difficult to understand the difference without playing cricket at a high level. Shubman Gill is not in form, while Suryakumar is not able to score runs,” he said.

The statistics also tell the same story, Suryakumar Yadav has not scored a single half-century in his last 22 T20 International innings and has crossed the 25-run mark only twice in the last one year.

What did Uthappa say on Shubman Gill?

Commenting about Gill, Robin Uthappa said that he looks quite confused at the moment. According to Uthappa, “At the moment he is not looking in good touch. You can see in his eyes, there is a lot of confusion in him even while batting. He is getting out on good balls. Lungi Ngidi bowled brilliantly throughout the series and troubled Gill a lot whenever he played.”

Questions were also raised on the selection process

Uthappa said that he himself was surprised to see the Indian team announced for the T20 World Cup. He told, “I was really shocked. I had returned home after traveling late at night. When I woke up, I looked at the phone. I thought, what has happened?”

Uthappa admitted that the team has been selected strong, but questions arise on the selection process. He said. “For me, the issue is not that a player has been dropped from the team, but how these decisions were taken. If you are making a player the vice-captain, then the decision to remove him midway is incomprehensible. Either do not keep him in this role in the first place, or do not announce the vice-captain at all.”

Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli are in excellent form. Virat is scoring 302 runs in the series against South Africa, while Rohit is also scoring runs continuously. Meanwhile, former cricketer Robin Uthappa has targeted Team India’s head coach Gautam Gambhir. Uthappa says that Rohit and Virat have done well against South Africa, yet Gautam Gambhir has held back from praising them.

Robin Uthappa on his YouTube channel said, “I found it surprising that in the press conference after the series ended, I did not see Gautam Gambhir praising Virat and Rohit. Here are two batsmen who are batting with all their heart and showing how well they can play. They have removed every doubt about what they can do and have silenced their critics by showing what they can do for India if they are in great form.”

It is important to stay in the present

India had defeated South Africa 2-1 in the ODI series. After Team India won the series, Gautam Gambhir was asked about the plans for 2027 ODI World Cup. Gambhir said, “First you have to understand that the ODI World Cup is still 2 years away. It is important that you think while living in the present.”

In the ODI series against South Africa, Virat Kohli scored two consecutive centuries and played an unbeaten inning of 65 runs in the final match, which contributed significantly to Team India’s victory. He scored 302 runs in 3 matches and for this performance he was also given the Player of the Series award. On the other hand, Rohit Sharma had scored 146 runs and remains the world’s number-1 batsman in the ODI rankings.

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The auction process for the 19th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL 2026) will take place in Abu Dhabi on 16 December. There was a mega auction for the last edition, which lasted for 2 days and this time there will be a 1 day mini auction. However, former Indian cricketer Robin Uthappa wants that the auction should not take place at all. He also feels that the league should last for about 6 months, which currently runs for about two and a half months.

Robin Uthappa wants that after ending the IPL player auction, there should be a draft system and keeping the trade window open throughout the year. He wants that the league should last for 6 months, in between which an international series should also take place.

What did Robin Uthappa say

Robin Uthappa, who was a part of the IPL-winning teams of Kolkata Knight Riders (2014) and Chennai Super Kings (2021), said on his YouTube channel, “They are not taking it beyond the start-up stage and it is surprising. You are the biggest cricket league in the world. Now you have matured. Just keep it going.”

Uthappa further said, “Stop the auction and keep the trade window open throughout the year. Draft and end the auction. To be honest, end the auction. I used to say that even when I was playing.”

IPL should be a 6 month league- Uthappa

He further said, “They are not moving forward with an entertainment mindset for TV. Even a draft can be great TV. You will engage your fans and build fan loyalty. Just start it. I think IPL should be like a 6-month league. You can keep international matches in between. It has to be developed.”

Uthappa’s IPL career

Robin Uthappa, who has played 59 international matches for India, has been playing IPL since the first edition, he made his debut for Mumbai Indians and played the last edition for Chennai Super Kings in 2022. Uthappa played a total of 205 matches in IPL, in which he scored 4952 runs at a strike rate of 130.35.

Robin Uthappa Stats In ODIs & T20Is: It is the birthday of Team India’s former wicketkeeper batsman Robin Uthappa and he has turned 40 today. Born on 11 November 1985 in Karnataka, this player is known for his aggressive batting along with wicket-keeping. Robin has led the Indian team to victory in many matches with his batting. Let us take a look at his records in ODI and T20 International on his birthday today.

Performance in ODI career

Robin Uthappa started his ODI career in 2006 against England. He played a total of 46 ODI matches, in which he scored 934 runs while batting in 42 innings. His average was 25.94 and strike rate was 90.59. He scored 6 half-centuries in ODI and his best score was 86 runs. However, Robin could not score any century in his ODI career and played his last ODI match against Zimbabwe in 2015.

Performance in T20 International

Robin Uthappa started his T20 International career in the 2007 T20 World Cup against Scotland. He played a total of 13 T20 International matches, in which he scored 249 runs while batting in 12 innings. His average was 20.75 and strike rate was 118.57. His only half-century in T20 Internationals came against Pakistan in 2007, when he scored 50 runs in 39 balls. Robin also played his last T20 international match against Zimbabwe in 2015.

Important part of 2007 T20 World Cup

Robin Uthappa is always remembered for India’s victory in the inaugural T20 World Cup in 2007. In the group stage match against Pakistan, when India was in trouble at 39/4, he rescued the team by scoring 50 runs. In that match, Robin played an important role in securing the victory by hitting the stumps in the “ball out”.

Retirement from international cricket

After being out of Team India for a long time, Robin Uthappa retired from all formats of Indian cricket in September 2022. Although his ODI and T20 international career was not as long as it was in the IPL, he left his mark by playing some memorable innings. Especially his contribution in the 2007 World Cup is still fresh in the minds of Indian cricket fans.

IND vs PAK Hong Kong Sixes 2025: India has once again defeated Pakistan in a thrilling match. Team India completely dominated Pakistan in the matches played in Hong Kong Sixes 2025. In this tournament, the Indian team is playing under the captaincy of Dinesh Karthik. In the match against Pakistan, Robin Uthappa batted brilliantly and scored runs at a strike rate of 255. India defeated Pakistan by 2 runs in this match.

Robin Uthappa’s explosive batting

In the Hong Kong Sixes Tournament, there is a game of 6-6 overs between the two teams. In this match, Pakistan won the toss and decided to bowl first and asked the Indian team to bat. When the Indian team came out to bat, opening batsman Robin Uthappa along with Bharat Chipli started thrashing the Pakistani bowlers. Uthappa scored 28 runs in 11 balls at a strike rate of 254.55, hitting 2 fours and 3 sixes. Whereas Bharat Chipli played an inning of 24 runs in 13 balls, in which he hit 2 fours and 2 sixes.

How did Pakistan lose in just 3 overs?

This match between India and Pakistan was of 6-6 overs. Batting first, India put 86 runs on the board at the loss of 4 wickets in 6 overs. When Pakistan team came to bat, Pakistani players scored 41 runs at the loss of one wicket in 3 overs. But then rain spoiled the game. Due to continuous rain the match could not be resumed. India won this match by 2 runs through DLS Method.

Pakistan team batted better before the rain, but the match got stuck due to the last three balls of the second over and the first ball of the fourth over being dot and India got the advantage of these four consecutive dot balls in DLS Method and Pakistan lost the match by 2 runs.

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Hong Kong Six 2025 tournament has started from today, in which India has defeated Pakistan by 2 runs. In this match played in Mong Kok, Hong Kong, Team India, playing first, had scored 86 runs in the stipulated 6 overs. In this rain-affected match, Pakistan was able to play only 3 overs, in which it scored 41 runs. India was declared winner by 2 runs through DLS method.

The Indian team came to bat first, Robin Uthappa and Bharat Chipli made a good start and scored 34 runs in the first 2 overs. Uthappa was out in the third over after scoring 28 runs in 11 balls. Stuart Binny came, hit a four on the very first ball, but was out on the very next ball. Apart from him, Dinesh Karthik contributed 17 runs in 6 balls. In this way the Indian innings ended at the score of 86/4.

Pakistan’s target is 87

Chasing the target of 87 runs, Pakistan had already scored 18 runs in the first over. Stuart Binny gave only 7 runs in the second over, while Shahbaz Nadeem gave 16 runs in the third over. Pakistan had scored 41 runs at the loss of one wicket in 3 overs, but then the rain came. As a result, Team India was declared the winner by 2 runs using Duckworth-Lewis method. This was the first match of the Indian team in the tournament.

A total of 12 teams are participating in this tournament, which have been divided into four groups of three each. India, Pakistan and Kuwait are in Group C. Currently, Pakistan is at first place in the table after one win in 2 matches and Indian team is at second place with one win. Top-2 teams from each group will enter the quarterfinals.

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Robin Uthappa, who shared the dressing room in the Indian cricket team with Virat Kohli, made a big disclosure in a podcast. He told how inadvertently there was a rift between him and Kohli. Let us know that both have also played many matches against each other in IPL. Actually, in an interview, Uthappa raised questions about Kohli’s captaincy. He criticized not to include Ambati Rayudu in the 2019 World Cup.

Under the captaincy of Virat Kohli, the Indian cricket team reached the semi -finals in the 2019 World Cup, where he was out after losing to New Zealand. Prior to the 2019 World Cup, Ambati Rayudu was considered a strong contender for the fourth number, whose performance was continuously. However, the selectors did not choose him and replaced Vijay Shankar in his place. In that podcast, Uthappa also criticized Kohli’s captaincy for not recovering Yuvraj Singh with Ambati Rayudu, who (Yuvraj) later took retirement without playing a Farewell match.

I should have spoken to Virat Kohli first- Uthappa

Now Robin Uthappa said on YouTube channel that the objective of that conversation was on him and not Virat Kohli. He said that despite this, his comments created a rift in the relationship with Virat Kohli.

Uthappa said, “In that whole conversation I was not intended to talk about Virat Kohli, but that interview was about me. I was asked a question and I just answered him. I did not pay attention to Virat’s feelings or this fact at that time, no matter what I believe, they should know what I believe. I realized that I should have talked to them before. “

Uthappa admitted that of course he had the right to speak, but later he also realized that he should have told Virat Kohli first. He said that this gave him a great learning.

Robin Uthappa said, “I did not talk about my experience with Virat Kohli. I talked about what I saw under the leadership of my close friend Kohli. It was not even his leadership but a leadership style. Everyone had the right to keep their leadership style, and everyone also has the right to have their opinion. I felt that I thought about him before he had to talk about them. That we should show this sensitivity towards cricketers or people associated with it. “

The Indian cricket team is undoubtedly 1-2 in the Test series, but in every match they have given a tough fight to England. India’s batsmen have performed historically, although the bowling was seen struggling a little. On the last day of the fourth Test played in Manchester, England players created a non -essential controversy. He demanded to finish the match when Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar were close to their centuries. Now Robin Uthappa has also lashed out by English players.

Jack Croly and Ben Docket, including England captain Ben Stokes, erupted after Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar rejected the offer of not joining hands and ending the match. Jack Crolye described it as shameful. Robin Uthappa is not happy with such rhetoric.

What did Robin Uthappa say

He said during live on his YouTube channel, “There is no harm in talking. We have no time left in the end of the day’s game, can we go out? If someone is close to a century and he does not agree for it, we have the right. We think we are entitled to it. But the players of England are behind. But what were the players like Jack Kroli, Ben Docket?”

He said, “It was necessary, because a Test century is a Test century. Very few people, only 1 or 2 percent of the people of the cricket world are able to do this.

Robin said, “This is as if you are saying that it cannot eat non -veg because it is against our morality. It is like this. If I eat non -veg and you eat veg food then what is the difference to you? We both can be happy in our place.”

England cricket team raised controversy

India’s defeat in the fourth Test was considered to be sure, but till 5 sessions, the Indian batsmen stood like a rock and draw the match. This was not a victory for India but England was definitely defeated, the players of England did a new trick. When Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar were close to their century, Ben Stokes came to join hands with him because he wanted the match to be stopped.

Shubman Gill did not accept this proposal, although Team India could not win this match but the captain wanted Jadeja and Sundar to convert this brilliant innings into a century. The same happened, both of them completed their centuries, this was the first international century of Sundar. Earlier, Shubman Gill also scored a century. KL Rahul played an important innings of 90 runs.