Chennai Super Kings (CSK) batter Robin Uthappa redeemed himself in the IPL 2021 Qualifier 1 against Delhi Capitals (DC) and scored 63 runs off 44 deliveries. CSK included him in the playing eleven in place of Suresh Raina and kept backing despite a couple of failures in the league stage match.
Former India cricketer Gautam Gambhir praised MS Dhoni for persisting with Uthappa which paid off in an important match. CSK are now through to the IPL 2021 final after beating DC by 4 wickets.
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In a run chase of 173 runs against DC, CSK sent Uthappa at number 3 which is usually for Moeen Ali. “You have to give credit to MS Dhoni that he continued with Robin Uthappa. He could have easily been tempted to go for Suresh Raina. When you persist with a player, he will eventually come good if he has the ability, and Robin has the ability,” he said on ESPNCricinfo.
Gambhir has played with Uthappa for Kolkata Knight Riders and he understands that the Kerala batter likes to bat inside the top 3. “He (Robin) has shown it in the past. And, probably he likes batting at the Top 3, and before this, he actually has not batted at No.3, he has batted at No.4, so probably this is where he likes it, and recognizing and sending him at No.3 was equally important. MS has used Moeen Ali at No.3, and today he used Robin Uthappa, and he has got the fruits,” he concluded.
Even captain Dhoni had spoken on Uthappa and Moeen's batting position after the win against DC. He said both the batters like to bat at 3 and they have left the position open for them.
"He (Uthappa) is somebody who likes to bat up the order. Mo has done very well for us at 3. So we have left it open. Whoever gets out, one of you will bat at 3. We have just left it to god how we decide that (smiles). We have to (leave it to god) because we can't decide. Depends on which opener gets out against which opposition we are playing," said Dhoni in the post-match presentation.
(With ESPNCricinfo Inputs)
