Uthappa Opens Up About 2019 Comments
Former India wicketkeeper Robin Uthappa has reflected on his 2019 interview where he publicly criticised Virat Kohli for omitting Ambati Rayudu from the ODI World Cup squad. Speaking on his YouTube channel, Uthappa admitted that his remarks affected his relationship with Kohli, and that he should have spoken to the captain directly before expressing his opinion publicly.
“In that whole conversation, the intent was not to speak about Virat. I was asked a question which I spoke to. I didn’t take into consideration the sentiments of Virat… My relationship with Virat was impacted by that,” Uthappa said.
Uthappa emphasized that while it was his right to voice his opinion, doing so without prior discussion with Kohli was a learning experience.
Respecting Opinions and Leadership Styles
The 39-year-old further highlighted the importance of respecting others’ perspectives, especially within the cricketing fraternity.
“Everyone is entitled to have their own style of leadership, and everyone is entitled to have their opinion. I felt I should have spoken to him about it before I spoke about it on national television,” he added.
Uthappa noted that the incident taught him to balance honesty with sensitivity, a lesson he believes is crucial when discussing peers and leaders in professional sports.
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