Robin Uthappa: Refused to signal papers throughout trade-off to RCB from MI, took me total season to shift loyalties

Playing a sport on the highest degree not solely requires an athlete to remain bodily match but additionally to be powerful on the within. The psychological well being of athletes is just not typically spoken about, however former India cricketer Robin Uthappa has at all times been vocal about his journey by way of melancholy.

Uthappa feels one of many causes for him to spiral down into melancholy was when Indian Premier League aspect Mumbai Indians determined to let him go on a commerce proper earlier than the beginning of the second season.

“That was indeed a difficult phase for me. Cricket back then was mostly national and international cricket. Professionalism was there but it was nation-based. So, loyalty is a big part of that. I think me, Manish Pandey and Zaheer Khan were the first ones to be traded in IPL. And that didn’t go down easy with me. I was already dealing with a lot of personal issues at that point in time and I didn’t want that trade to happen because my loyalty was completely with Mumbai Indians at that time,” Uthappa stated in Sportstar’s Wednesdays with W.V.Raman show.

“In fact, I refused to sign the papers. And the person in-charge there said, “If you don’t sign these trade papers, the only way you get into the Playing 11 is over my dead body.’ And that impacted me in a deep manner,” he added.

Uthappa additionally revealed that his psychological well being took a toll on his performances for Royal Challengers Bangalore in his first season with the membership.

“It took me an entire season to shift loyalties. Even though I was returning ‘home’ essentially to RCB (Royal Challengers Bangalore), it wasn’t easy for me. And it catapulted me into clinical depression. The first two years at RCB, although I loved playing there, were tragic,” he stated.

“But they were very forthcoming. Ray Jennings was an extraordinary coach; he took care of me as if I were his son. But that part about being loyal to Mumbai Indians made me stay conflicted throughout the season. It took me a while to accommodate, and when the trade happened the next time (RCB to Pune Warriors), it didn’t hit me that hard,” added the 39-year-old.

“Mental health is not a short-term kind of format where you deal with it in the moment. It’s a long-term thing, it’s a marathon; it’s not a sprint. You have to understand that you have to invest time and energy into it,” Uthappa stated.

“Some people take six months, some people take more. It’s a process, not a destination. It’s a journey, and you’ll get there eventually,” he added.