Former India Batter Reveals How Karun Nair Ruined His Chances Of Making The Test Team

Robin Uthappa was in and out of the Indian white-ball team, but with his consistent performances in the domestic circuit, he thought he had a crack at making it to the Test team. However, that took a massive blow when he was dropped from the Karnataka squad for the 2016-17 season.

In a recent interview, he opened up about that, that it was because of Karun Nair, who he thought was upset with certain comments Uthappa made in an interview.

“There was an interview. At that point, I was trying to get into the Test team. I was frustrated because, despite performing well, I wasn’t even being considered. Maybe all of those emotions came out in the conversation. I said in the interview that Test caps were being given away too easily and that some people really needed to earn them rather than just being given them freely,” Uthappa said on First Umpire, according to India TV.

“Someone from our team took that piece of interview and told Karun Nair that I had said it about him. Karun Nair, who was like a younger brother, alienated me at that time because he was close to getting a Test cap. He didn’t check with me and believed it."

He was also later accused of creating unwanted tensions in the team. 

“Later, there was a meeting in Karnataka. Generally, when we qualified for the quarterfinals, I had this habit of getting everyone together, inviting them home, sharing a meal and drinks, and building team unity. Before I could invite them home, there was a meeting in the stadium. I was called up and told I was breaking up the team and creating issues,” Uthappa said.

Uthappa moved away from Karnataka and represented Saurashtra and Kerala until 2022.