Robin Uthappa exhibited his vintage avatar on Tuesday night to help Chennai Super Kings (CSK) register their first win in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022, beating Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) by 23 runs.
Uthappa lit up the Dr DY Patil Sports Academy in Mumbai with his blistering knock that saw as many as nine gigantic sixes and 4 fours. Uthappa was quite watchful in the initial part of his unbelievable innings when the Super Kings were reeling at 36/2 in 6.4 overs.
The Karnataka-based cricketer paced his knock really well and formed a dominating 165 runs partnership with all-rounder Shivam Dube for the third wicket. While Uthappa ended up scoring 88 from 50 deliveries, Dube finished in the 90s with an unbeaten 95 off 46 balls.
The major highlight of Uthappa’s innings that really helped Chennai shift the momentum was the 13th over bowled by RCB all-rounder Glenn Maxwell. The Victorian had just conceded 10 runs in his previous two overs, and captain Faf du Plessis gave him the responsibility again to keep the run rate under control.
However, Uthappa had some other plans as he decided to take Maxwell to the cleaners. The right-handed batter smashed as many as three sixes in the over, giving clear indications regarding what could be the aftermaths.
After the match, Uthappa revealed the game plan behind the onslaught to Maxwell. The 36-year-old reckoned he had told Dube to give him more strike when pacers are on, and the left-handed batter should play more spin, but when Maxi came to the ball, Uthappa decided to have a go at him, which worked in their favour.
“When Maxwell came in to bowl his third over, I felt it was the time to take him on even though it was the bigger boundary. An off-spinner bowling, so I decided to take him on. When the spinners were bowling, I tried to feed him (Dube) as much strike as possible, and when the pacers were back on, I told him to give me the strike back,” said Uthappa after the match.
