Former Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) batter Robin Uthappa has come up with a startling admission. The multiple-time Indian Premier League (IPL) champion has confessed that he wanted to leave KKR right after taking them to an IPL victory in 2014. Picked at just Rs 5 crore at the 2014 IPL auction, Uthappa wanted to “maximize” his earnings after a fabulous IPL season and thus wanted to be released by the franchise.
After Pune Warriors India (PWI) was removed from the IPL by the BCCI, Uthappa’s name had to go into the IPL 2014 auction. KKR plucked the Indian wicket-keeper batter and Uthappa instantly became a star. He formed a superb opening pair with skipper Gautam Gambhir. In his first season with KKR, Uthappa racked up 660 runs (his best-ever tally) at an immaculate average of 44.00 and consequently won the Orange Cap as well. KKR went on to win the IPL 2014 as well, beating the Punjab Kings in the final at Eden Gardens.
Uthappa wanted to earn more after leaving KKR
Incidentally, Uthappa’s stocks were at all-time high. At 29, he was still in the fray of the Indian team and an image of being a consistent run-getter in the IPL would’ve shot his stocks towards north. That is why Uthappa revealed he wanted to get released by the 2014 winners.
“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 said while speaking on the ‘KimAppa’ show by Jarrod Kimber on YouTube.
Uthappa was earning Rs 5 crore in his deal at KKR. Hence, he wanted to maximize his earnings. However, the deal couldn’t break through with KKR, who had their right to retain the opener, who went on to score 4952 runs in 205 IPL matches.
“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.”
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