Robin Uthappa has hit out after he was criticised for supporting his former IPL team Chennai Super Kings during Qualifier 1 against Gujarat Titans today (May 23).

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A bit of background: Uthappa’s first IPL team was Mumbai Indians in 2008, and he went on to represent five other sides in the tournament. He moved to Royal Challengers Bangalore in the second season of the IPL, before he was bought by Pune Warriors India in 2011, where he stayed till 2013.

His most successful stint was with Kolkata Knight Riders, from 2014 to 2019. He played 86 games for the team, scoring 2,439 runs and played a huge role in the side’s triumph in 2014, when he made 660 runs and ended with the Orange Cap.

Uthappa was released by the franchise after the 2019 season and was bought by Rajasthan Royals the next year. He was traded to Chennai Super Kings in 2021 and played two match-winning knocks in Qualifier 1 and the final, making 63 and a 15-ball 31, respectively. The 37-year-old played 12 games last year, making 230 runs at an average of 20.90, and announced his retirement soon after the season ended.

On Tuesday, he uploaded a picture with his son wearing the CSK jersey and extended his support to the side ahead of the playoffs the Chepauk Stadium.

Uthappa later claimed he was attacked for the post, with a user commenting that Uthappa had never supported his former side KKR in a similar manner. Uthappa responded by saying, “Loyalty and respect is a give and take my friend!!”

According to reports, Uthappa was left surprised after he was not named KKR’s skipper in 2018 following the mega-auction, with Dinesh Karthik being named captain instead. Gautam Gambhir, who had led Kolkata from 2012 for six seasons, had been released by the franchise. Karthik had been bought by KKR during the 2018 auctions and was named the captain in his very first season with the side, with Uthappa named vice-captain.

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